CHARLESTON, S.C. - Despite torrential rain in the area thanks to Hurricane Fay, the Charleston Southern women's soccer team suited up for their season-opener against Francis Marion. Despite giving up an early lead, the Lady Bucs battled back, using a golden-goal in overtime to win 3-2.

Coming off the bench for Charleston Southern (1-0), last year's Big South Freshman of the Year Michelle Dennis (So., Ann Arbor, Mich.) struck twice, including the game-winner 5:27 into the first overtime. Freshman Casey Bolduc (Spartanburg, S.C.) got her first-career goal to tie the game 1-1 in the 14th-minute. Emma Mattsson (Sr., Helsingborg, Sweden) tallied assists on each of the first two CSU strikes, while it was a free kick from Sarah Catenacci (Jr., Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) that set up the game-winner.

Angela Salem and Brandi Bonifay each scored for the Patriots (0-1), with Bonifay leading the offensive charge for FMU with three shots, two on goal. Amanda Hall had two shots, with both of them forcing saves by CSU goalie Alyssa Budros (So., Travers City, Mich.)

Emily Brandenburg tallied six saves for Francis Marion, but faced an offensive onslaught by CSU, who out-shot the Patriots 24-7, including a 12-1 mark in the second half.

It was Salem who started the scoring, though, as her solid shot in the 11th-minute slipped through the hands of Budros and rolled into the net to quickly put Francis Marion up 1-0.

It appeared that the rain would lead to a high scoring affair as Bolduc was able to tie it up with a one-touch shot on a nice cross from Mattsson.

Again, it didn't take long for the ball to find the back of the net as Salem took a free kick and lofted the ball into the middle. Bonifay found it and headed it home to give FMU a 2-1 advantage going into halftime.

In the 57th-minute, Dennis would score her 12th goal of her CSU career as the sophomore followed the lead of Bolduc and took a cross from Mattsson on one touch and tied the game.

With solid defense on both sides, neither team was able to get another ball in the back of the net in regulation. Both teams tried to send everything they had on the attack to get the golden goal that would send them to a 1-0 start on the season.

With 5:27 gone in overtime, Catenacci lined up a free kick from about 40 yards out, sending to the top of the 18-yard box. As the ball bounced up in the air, Dennis used every inch of her 5-8 frame to get a head on it, sending it over the keepers head for the winner.

The Lady Bucs will head to Spartanburg, S.C., on Monday to face USC Upstate in a 5 p.m. battle. Francis Marion will return home for a 2 p.m. contest on Sunday against East Carolina.