HARROGATE, Tenn. --- Chris Ryan scored the game-winning goal 10 seconds into the second overtime period to lift the Tusculum College men's lacrosse team to an 8-7 victory over Lincoln Memorial University on Wednesday afternoon. It was the first South Atlantic Conference victory in TC men's lacrosse history.

Tusculum (2-5, 1-3 SAC) tied the game at 7-7 on Ben Boyd's goal with just four minutes remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime, the first in program history. The Pioneers were led by Kellen Asmundson who had three goals, while Nate Wade registered three points on a pair of scores and an assist.

Lincoln Memorial (1-7, 0-5) was first on the scoreboard with a goal by Jusstin Ruffin in the seventh minute of play. However, TC answered with back-to back scores to take a 2-1 advantage. Asmundson connected on his first score in the ninth minute and Andrew Kransberger gave the Pioneers their first lead of the day with a goal just one minute later.

Tusculum took its 2-1 advantage into the second quarter, but LMU tied the game at 2-2 with a goal by Billy Kopsky with nine minutes to play before halftime. The Railsplitters took their first lead in the contest with a goal from Adam Golia in the 25th minute. Howver, the lead didn't last long as Asmundson found the back of the cage for the second time three minutes later off an assist from Kransberger to knot the score at 3-3. That score held into the halftime break.

After nine minutes with a goal, the teams combined to score seven goals in the final six minutes of the third quarter. TC had back-to-back goals from Wade to take a 5-3 lead, but LMU got goals from Jared Courchene and Dylan Neisler in the next minute to tie the game at 5-5.

Asmundson scored his third goal with 54 seconds remaining in the third quarter to give TC a 6-5 advantage. However, Neisler scored twice in the final 40 seconds of the frame to give LMU a 7-6 lead heading to the fourth.

The teams picked up the defensive intensity after the wild final few minutes of the third, and neither side allowed a goal in the first 11 minutes of the final quarter before Boyd tallied the tying score. In the first overtime session, TC put up three shots but couldn't find the game-winner. Ryan connected on the first and only shot of the second overtime period to claim the Pioneer victory.

Tusculum goalie Kevin Haggerty made 17 saves in the winning effort. Railsplitter goalie Joe Medel took the loss despite 13 saves. TC was 12-for-18 on faceoffs from Alexander Kleinburg. The Pioneers also held a narrow 28-27 advantage in ground balls led by five from Dallas Wade. Jake Smith led TC with three caused turnovers.

The Pioneers will be back in action on Saturday when they play their first game of season at Pioneer Field against the visiting Catawba College Indians at 3 p.m.