Fortune finally smiled on the Mountain Lions.

Oscar Velasco scored with 39 seconds remaining in the second overtime to give the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs a 1-0 win over the Westminster Griffins Friday night and end the Mountain Lions' seven-match losing streak.

"It's a sigh of relief," said sophomore defender Eric Foulk. "It's a big burden off everybody's back."

CU-Colorado Springs' Brian Best made a long throw-in that was headed to the ground by a Westminster defender in front of the Griffins' goal. The ball squirted out to the 18-yard mark, where Velasco one-timed it into the upper left hand corner of the net.

"The ball popped out off of the throw-in," said Foulk, who was trailing the play. "The ball knocked around a little bit and deflected out. He settled it really well, took a one touch and just nailed it."

Fittingly for a team that has had little luck so far this season, the goal had a tinge of good fortune attached to it. Not only did it come in the waning seconds, but the ball also made its way through what seemed to be every player on the field.

"It was awesome," said Foulk. "(Velasco) took a shot in the middle of everybody and people's heads were ducking this way and that way. The goalie didn't see it until it was right there."

Until Velasco's shot, fans were left wondering if the Mountain Lions would ever score. Coming into the match, they had scored only seven goals in nine matches -- a drought that had all of the appearance of a curse when they outshot Westminster 22-8 without finding the goal. Worse, CU-Colorado Springs hit two posts, missed another goal when a crossing pass eluded Mark Brehm by inches, then had another close call on a Brian Thatcher header.

Chris Hovasse notched his second shutout of the season for CU-Colorado Springs (2-8-0). The junior from Lewis-Palmer High School made three saves, including a game-saving fingertip stop with 15 seconds left in regulation.

CU-Colorado Springs' defense was superb, playing its best match since coach Flavio Mazzetti switched to a flat four defense. Eric Foulk and Marcus Reynolds repeatedly tracked balls sent over the top of the Mountain Lions' midfield, denying Westminster's speedy forwards the long-ball attack they favor. While Foulk and Reynolds shut down the long ball, Brian Thatcher and Jeff Halligan denied Westminster (4-8-1) the wings.

"Our whole team's starting to play a lot better now," said Foulk, who was switched from midfield to defense four matches ago. "In the back, we're starting to get a lot more comfortable with having more people back there. We're communicating better and we're a lot more organized."

Communication and organization are good ways to make fortune swing your way.