Cumberlands Scores OT Winner to Secure Women's Lacrosse Championship

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - Marisa Helsten came up clutch, scoring with 35 seconds left in the first overtime period to lift No. 2 seed Cumberlands to the 2025 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Lacrosse Tournament championships, edging top-seeded Reinhardt 11-10.

The three-day tournament was held on Cumberlands' campus in Williamsburg, Ky.

This is the Patriots' first AAC women's lacrosse title since 2018. 

Early on, it appeared Cumberlands would win in a rout as it jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first. Reinhardt rallied and cut the deficit to 6-4 late in the second, but Cumberlands was able to take an 8-5 lead into the half.

Cumberlands netted the first two goals of the second half for a 10-5 cushion. However, Reinhardt steadily chipped at the margin and eventually tied the match at 10-all on a Lawny Henry goal with 14 seconds left in regulation.

Reinhardt, though, was never able to seize the lead as Helsten scored the game-winner late in the first overtime period.

Helsten finished with four goals and one assist to earn Tournament MVP honors. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team are Mia Bosah, Emma Rittman, and Koral Hadac of Cumberlands; Kelsey Sowa, Brinley Christiansen, and Madison Hasty of Reinhardt; Aubree Lair and Maddie Diaz of Georgetown; and Kate Buchanan and Olivia Downey of Tennessee Wesleyan.

With the tournament win, Cumberlands receives an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament, which is set for April 30-May 3 in Savannah, Ga.