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Since the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference field hockey league was formed in 2003, the race for the championship has been between Holy Cross and Good Counsel. Through the first part of this season, the latter has fallen behind in that race.

With Friday's thrilling, 1-0 overtime victory against the visiting Falcons, Holy Cross (5-3-1 overall, 5-0 WCAC) found itself locked in a battle with Elizabeth Seton for first place in the WCAC standings. Good Counsel, which has been swept by those two squads, are battling to stay out of the league's play-in game between the fourth and fifth seeds for a spot in the postseason tournament.

Katie Cecere scored the game's only goal, tapping in a rebound following a save by Good Counsel goalkeeper Christian Sheridan with 6 minutes, 8 seconds left in overtime. The Tartans used their overall speed advantage in the extra period to quickly clear the ball downfield and fire off a fast-break shots.

"I just did everything I could to get it in," Cecere said. "She did save it initially. Then I got a deflection off of it. It was really exciting. It's a big game. We're now 5-0 in the WCAC. I know my teammates and I are really excited."

The same can't be said for Good Counsel coach Kelly Stodter, who declined comment Friday. Her Falcons, the defending WCAC champions, have battled Seton and Holy Cross to the wire in all four matches, but defensive lapses here and there, plus the team's lack of offensive firepower, has dropped them out of top-seed consideration for the first time since the league formed. The Falcons have played for the championship every year.

Friday's contest was certainly even, as each team's defense limited shots during the first 60 minutes. Good Counsel, in fact, withstood several penalty corners in the final minute of play as Rachel Forman, among others, kept clearing the ball away.

"Their goalie's good and their defense really gets their sticks down in the circle, so we had a little trouble finishing," said Holy Cross coach Candy Thurman, whose team won the first match-up with Good Counsel, 2-0, Sept. 16. "I felt in overtime we'd have an advantage because it's more spread out and it plays to the speed and stick work."

Good Counsel won all three matches against Holy Cross a year ago, including a 2-1 victory in the WCAC championship match at the University of Maryland. The Tartans last captured the title in 2006.