Box Score

Demorest, GA -- The Piedmont College women's soccer team came roaring back after allowing a first half score to visiting Columbia College earlier tonight with a pair of scores including a golden goal in double overtime to win 2-1 over the South Carolina program.  The Lady Lions became the cardiac cats in front of a 300 plus crowd at Walker Athletic Complex overtaking the Fighting Koalas with late drama as Piedmont trailed with under 20 minutes remaining before storming back for the extra time victory.

In the first half, PC struggled to get going offensively withstanding a growing amount of pressure from the attack of the Fighting Koalas who tallied seven first half chances compared to six for the Lady Lions.  Columbia finally broke through just four minutes before the halftime whistle blew when Heather Moore's strike from distance found the back of the home team's net as the visitors took a 1-0 advantage into the intermission.

Coming back for second half action, Piedmont began to come alive keeping Columbia in their own half of the field for much of the final 45 minutes only allowing two total shots while creating eight of their own.  On one of those eight, it was sophomore Haley Grimes who struck gold when she bullied a long looping strike over the head of Columbia keeper Elise Grider and into the side netting bringing PC level at 1-1 in the 83rd minute.

Now even with the Fighting Koalas, the Lady Lions continued to apply pressure with chances to win it in regulation though the night seemed destined for an overtime decision with each squad performing well throughout.  The two battled back and forth in the first overtime period though Piedmont continued to have the better of the chances tallying two shots on goal forcing Grider to mind her net with a pair of saves. 

Working through the first OT scoreless, a Columbia foul just outside the box on the left hand side of the Koala's goal handed senior midfielder Justine Clay a chance to end the match with a free kick opportunity in the attacking third.  The Buford native responded like a veteran lacing a long drive to the back post where Grider could only get a fingertip on it as the ball rattled in the upper 90 for the golden goal, her third gamewinnner of the season.

Piedmont outshot the visiting Fighting Koalas 17 to nine in the entire game holding Columbia to just two total chances over the final 61 minutes of the match.  Sophomore Marjorie Hammond made three saves in goal while moving her record as a starter to 14-1-1 in the 2011 season while picking up her 15th career victory on the night.

Now 14-1-1 as a team, the Lady Lions also pick up their third win over Columbia in the last three games between the two programs including their second 2-1 victory at home over the Koalas including the 2009 win in Head Coach Stephen Andrew's second season at the helm.  After a short rest, Piedmont gets back on the field this Saturday, October 22nd when the team travels to Great South Athletic Conference member Huntingdon College for a league matchup.  Kickoff is set for 2:00 ET.