LAKE CHARLES – The clock struck late once again for the McNeese Cowgirl soccer team as for the second straight game, the Cowboys walked off the field with an overtime golden goal, this time from an open look by Rachel Palet at the top of the box who netted the game-winner with 30 seconds left in the first overtime period to give McNeese a 2-1 victory over Louisiana-Monroe on Friday night.

The win was the third straight for the Cowgirls who improve to 4-1 on the year.

Palet's goal came off a pass from Anna Watson who made a cut back to the middle of the field and spotting Palet wide open.

The victory was just minutes from not occurring.

ULM (0-5) took a 1-0 lead into the 87th minute when McNeese's Keely Morrow found the back of the net off a cross pass by Rebecca Adcock to tie the game 1-1. It was Morrow's second goal of the season.

Despite being held scoreless for the first 87 minutes of the game, the Cowgirls dominated the attack by outshooting ULM 36-4 and a 17-3 shots on-goal advantage.

"I think they (ULM) did a great job of getting numbers back and their keeper did a phenomenal job," said head coach Drew Fitzgerald. "Then you look at our shots on goal, which was decent, but how many of those balls trickled to the keeper or how many shots went over the top. We just have to clean that up and capitalize more on those chances."

In overtime period, the Cowgirls controlled the ball for nearly the entire ten-minute period that culminated with the game winner by Palet.

"The defense was open in the middle which gave me a clear shot at the left corner and just went for it," said Palet about the game-winner.

Watson, who had one of her best games as a Cowgirl, put up 10 total shots on the night with eight on-goal to go along with her assist on the game-winner.

When asked about how she felt about her performance, Watson said, "I was getting frustrated with myself just because my shots were going straight for the keeper or off the post, but I just tried to power through and get that finish."

"On the last play I just saw Rachel (Palet) and thought since I wasn't hitting any shots hopefully she will, and she hit it."

The 4-1 start is the team's best since beginning the 2013 season at 5-1. 

"I know it's just the typical coach's answer, but you'd much rather start 4-1 then 1-4," said Fitzgerald. "Although, it doesn't matter how you start because if we go out and drop the next three, it's meaningless. Our job is to just go out and win the next one every time."

The Cowgirls, who ranked No. 9 in this week's USC Midwest Regional Rankings, will be back in action on when they host Louisiana-Lafayette at 1 at Cowgirl Field.