In one year, Catonsville senior goalie Hannah Jefferey went from not playing field hockey at all, to playing in one of the greatest games of her life.

Jefferey, who was a field player as a sophomore on the junior varsity, didn't play as a junior, but returned this year when the Comets needed a keeper.

On Thursday evening at Catonsville, she was in the cage making the final save during a stroke-off to earn the Comets (5-2) a 2-1 victory over the visiting Lions (7-4).

"I was terrified the whole time," Jefferey said. "All the adrenaline kept me going and it was an incredible game. I think it was the biggest game ever and it was the best game any of us has ever played."

In the stroke-off, which features five players from each side, Dulaney's first shooter, Kenzie Brown, gave the Lions a 1-0 lead before Jefferey turned back the next four shooters.

Catonsville's Catherine Sweeney, the Comets' third stroker, tied the stroke-off at 1-1, and the next Comet, Kendall Law, gave them a 2-1 game-winning advantage.

"Their goalkeeper was very good," Dulaney coach Kendra Zeller said. "She's definitely a very strong player."

Jefferey's best work may have come during the second overtime, when she made six of her 11 saves.

She stopped a one-on-one fast-break opportunity from Courtney Jantzen in the first 20 seconds and followed with three consecutive stops on shots from Jantzen, Samantha Thibeault and Alex Calder.

Meanwhile, Jefferey's supporting cast during the 7-on-7 overtimes was equally impressive.

Catonsville sophomore defender Kelly Reymann, junior midfielders Maddie Hunt and Law, sophomore forward Brooke Stevens and freshman forwards Emma Clark and Sweeney were relentless in their pursuit.

All six field players played every minute of both overtimes, while the Lions made three substitutions.

"They are my strongest players and two of them are my strongest runners, so I knew the adrenaline and the desire to win the game would drive them, no matter how tired they were," Catonsville coach Lindsey Springer said.

Being the Comets' first stroke-off, Law didn't even expect to be involved, because they originally thought only three shooters were needed.

"I've actually never take a stroke in a game and they said they needed two more girls and I got volunteered and I went out with confidence," Law said. "You have to think to yourself you can do it and you can't have any negative thoughts. It was the best feeling I've ever had in my life and I've never had so much adrenaline in me."

Dulaney outshot the Comets, 27-11 in the 80 minutes and had a 22-4 advantage in penalty corners.

Dulaney's only goal came with 17:40 left in the first half when Jantzen's shot off Jefferey's pad was redirected back in by Calder.

Jantzen provided several strong sideline runs the rest of the game that resulted in shots and penalty corners, but no more goals.

"It's just capitalizing on our corners," Zeller said. "We had plenty of opportunities to capitalize and we didn't."

Catonsville took only three shots in the first half, but one resulted in a goal from junior reserve midfielder Sydney Corbitt with under five minutes left.

Stevens started the penalty corner that resulted in Corbitt's goal.

The second half was dominated by defensive gems.

Dulaney defenders Erin O'Brien, Charlotte Meredith and McKenna Bolanda and Catonsville defenders Reymann, Maggie Whelley and Hannah Summer were stellar in the final 30 minutes.

During one 7-minute stretch midway through the second half, Whelley had four stops of Dulaney drives that halted potential Lion runs.

"I didn't want it to get past me because I really wanted to win this game," Whelley said. "When I got that ball I instantly thought, 'get it out to the sidelines and get it down the field.' "

One ball the Lions did get into the circle nearly ended in a goal after Emily Edington's serve was redirected past Jefferey, but freshman Hannah Llorin was on the back line and spit it out with 12:40 left in regulation.

In the first overtime, Catonsville had the only shot on goal, but Emma Clark's strike was saved by goalie Elizabeth Schaeffler.

Catonsville best scoring chance in the second overtime came with a minute left, but Clark's fast break was thwarted by a sprawling Schaeffler.

Moments later, it was Catonsville's Jefferey who provided the final heroics, but she was quick to deflect the praise.

"It was just a complete team effort that made us win that game," Jefferey said.