Diaana Carey didn’t have any doubt. She wanted Emileigh Scott on the opening draw of overtime Monday.

The Lions’ second-year coach had switched up the circle throughout the back-and-forth contest against visiting Class 4A foe Bel Air (6-2), but when it came down to a crucial possession in the golden-goal extra time, she knew she needed her senior captain.

“She is competitive,” Carey said. “And the girls I had on the circle were the right girls.”

Scott stepped up to the line and won the ball in the air to gain possession for her team. Howard settled in offensively, and gave the ball to fellow senior captain Jenny Kinsey, who then found Scott cutting through the 8-meter. Scott corralled the pass and buried her shot into the bottom left corner of the netting to give the Lions the 16-15, overtime victory.

“I thought I saw the opening, so I cut and Jenny was unselfish and I just finished,” Scott said. “When the ball went through the back of the net ... I was just happy that I followed through for my team and I made that goal.”

Howard needed its senior captains, Scott, Kinsey and goalie Sam Sagi, in Monday’s tough game against the Bobcats, who nearly walked away with a come-from-behind win. 

The Lions led by five goals with just more than 13 minutes left in regulation, but Bel Air never wavered and coolly chipped away at the deficit.