The last time the Cyclones were in overtime, they felt the sudden heartbreak of a loss on a golden goal. There was no heartbreak for the Cyclones in Sunday’s overtime against Nebraska: just joy and elation, thanks to freshman Lauren Fader.

A tie looked inevitable with less than a minute to play in the second overtime period at the ISU Soccer Complex.

That was before Lauren Odino took a cross in the box and flicked it to Fader, who put away the goal and beat Nebraska (6-2-2) with only 22 seconds remaining in the game.

“I think we deserved it, we outshot them, we worked harder than them,” junior Erin Witte said. “It was just amazing, I’m just happy it went in.”

Fader’s goal gave the Cyclones (5-6-0) a 3-2 win, and capped off an impressive day for three freshmen – Fader, Odino and Casey Bothwell.

“The freshmen stepped up big,” coach Rebecca Hornbacher said. “Lauren Fader did an outstanding job just putting it in the back of the net right in the last minute and just not giving up, tooth and nail, leaving just everything on the field.”

Bothwell had the Cyclones first goal, and Odino, who had the game-winning assist, may have been the true hero of the day.

The Cyclones dominated for a majority of the second half and were trailing 2-1 with less than a minute to play in regulation. A ball was played into Nebraska’s box and Odino slid in and knocked it away from the keeper.

She was about to tie the game when the goalie reached out and took her down. Odino’s hustle earned the Cyclones a penalty kick, which Stephanie Kaphingst drilled home with 52 seconds remaining, sending the game into overtime.

“Lauren Odino just never quit,” Fader said.

“It just shows her mentality and the whole team’s mentality to really fight to the end and never stop.”

After the dramatic finish in regulation, the Cyclones came out hot and dominated the first and second periods of overtime, taking nine shots to Nebraska’s one. The goal in overtime came as a “sense of relief” for Hornbacher.

“I felt like we really had the momentum the whole overtime and had so many close chances,” she said. “It was a game that I feel we won in overtime and to get that goal was just great closure to a hard-fought game.”

The win moves the Cyclones to 1-0 in the Big 12 and drops Nebraska to a 1-1 conference record.

“This was exactly what we needed to start out the Big 12 season,” Hornbacher said. “I’m so proud of our team. It was just a complete effort, and we’re going to be excited and celebrate our win, but we have to turn around and focus for Baylor, because every game is going to be a battle in the Big 12.”