Box Score

Demorest, GA - A flurry of first-half goals, including 11 from Spencer Ortis, gave the Lions all the support they'd need in a 22-6 win over visiting Oglethorpe University Wednesday afternoon.  Piedmont took a nine-goal advantage into halftime after scoring five times in the opening period and six in the second, allowing only two goals on 12 shots attempted.

Ortis found the goal three times in the first quarter, while Max Rowse was the first to get the Lions on the board.  Steve Blanchard also tallied a first quarter goal just moments after OU closed the gap to 3-1.  Ortis scored three unanswered goals in the second before the Stormy Petrels finally put another scratch on the board, narrowing the deficit to 8-2.  Ortis' fourth goal of the quarter and seventh of the game came with 3:42 left in the first half in a man-up opportunity.

Blanchard and Patrick Ammons both added a goal apiece before the Lions closed the half up 11-2.  Coming out of the break, Rowse and Graham Parks Ellison III scored early to push the lead to 13-2.  Ortis' 11 goals shattered the previous school record of six set earlier this season by Nicholas Green in Piedmont's inaugural season of men's lacrosse.  The third period came to a close when Nick Leaf added a goal on an assist by Ortis to give the host team a huge 15-4 padding.  Ortis didn't back off, scoring three of the seven fourth period goals to finish off the Stormy Petrels.

Rowse, Blanchard and Leaf all finished with three goals each in the win, as the Lions garnered their second two-game winning streak, moving to 4-3 overall.  Leading in assists was Ortis, Rowse and Zachary Sprague, who all had two helpers on the afternoon.  Blanchard and Rowse led in ground balls with seven, while John Sumner Gantz picked up six ground balls and won 12 faceoffs.  Piedmont returns to action at home against Centre College next Tuesday at 4:00 pm.