Demorest, GA - Ten years ago tonight, Piedmont College Head Women's Soccer Coach Stephen Andrew was in the same place he plans to take his Lady Lion soccer team to - a NCAA National Tournament game at Emory University.  That moment a decade ago came in Andrew's playing career for the Lions as the Piedmont alum had an experience that he is hoping will rub off on his Lady Lions as they face the country's 8th ranked team on Saturday in the NCAA postseason. 

"It's a unique situation to return to the place where I had one of the best memories in my playing career," said Andrew of the destiny moment.  "Getting the opportunity to replicate the same NCAA trip I had as a player now as a coach is a very special experience that I am happy to enjoy with this group of players."

Against the Eagles in the 2003 season, Andrew scored the game winning goal in the 80th minute of a 2-1 upset of the country's #3 ranked team eliminating Emory from the NCAA Men's Soccer National Tournament as Piedmont went on to make a Sweet 16 appearance in the tourney.  That deciding goal was the second of two game winning goals for Andrew in the 2003 NCAA Tournament as the Falkirk native guided his Lions to a 19-5 record knocking off two nationally ranked opponents in the NCAA's to help PC, who was unranked entering the tourney, finish as the nation's 16th ranked team that season.

Andrew is hoping now to translate his NCAA postseason success as a player to his own players now as a coach making his second trip to the NCAA National Tournament as the Head Coach of the Lady Lion soccer team with his last appearance coming in 2011 against the same foe he faces Saturday.  The Eagles were a top five team in the nation that season and handed Piedmont a 3-0 defeat marking just the second time in the last four seasons that an Andrew led squad has lost by more than two goals - a stretch that spans 82 games.

If it's experience he's looking for, Andrew is in luck as his 2013 version of the Lady Lions are led by a half dozen seniors who have been key to the success of the last four years which includes a 60-18-3 overall record and two conference titles.  The headliner of the successful group will be one that the Eagle defense will have its eye on as Lady Lion Laura Goodwin leads the team with her 16 goals in her senior campaign, a mark that places her second in the conference.

"It's been great to see Laura develop as a player over the last four years after bursting on to the scene as a freshman," said Andrew of his senior forward. "The season she has had this year is the right way for her to cap a great four-year career as a Lady Lion.  She has scored goals at crucial moments for us all season long including scoring the first goal in the conference semifinal and final as her play is a big reason why we are here at the National Tournament."

Goodwin is coming off a two-goal, one assist performance that helped her earn MVP honors at this past weekend's USA South Championship Tournament.  The Snellville native has the numbers to warrant the attraction of the opposing defense though Emory must be careful not to pay too much attention to #24 as the Lady Lions have proven to have a quite diverse attack in 2013.

"We've been preaching depth to our team since the first day of preseason, and we have asked many of our upperclassmen to sacrifice minutes so that we can continue to run in fresh players off the bench," said Andrew of his team's unique depth.  "Our biggest strength all season long has been our depth especially up top with so many different girls able to score goals.  The best example of that is that our three game winning goals in the conference tournament all came from girls who had yet to score a deciding goal (Caitlyn Dove, Marissa Akin, and Katie Zoller).  Anyone on our team can score in big moments for us."

In 2013, 16 Lady Lions have scored for Piedmont with 11 different players having scored game winning goals for PC on the year.   All three of Piedmont's game winning goals in the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament were scored by a different Lady Lion with each of those representing the first game winners of their individual seasons.  Although the multi-faceted attack of PC can cause opposing back lines to lose quite a bit of sleep, it's been the defense of the Lady Lions that has not rested in 2013 protecting the net with ferocity.

Piedmont has allowed just 13 goals in 21 games this season putting this year's team up with some of the best in the history of the program in that category.  PC's total so far is the best such mark through 21 games in the program's NCAA era which began with the 2003 season. 

"It's been a really great season for us in 2013, but we're looking forward to the challenge of facing one of the nation's best teams tomorrow in the NCAA National Tournament," said Andrew who believes his team is excited about tomorrow's game. "I'm happy for our girls to be rewarded for the hard work they've put in since August with their second trip to the NCAA tourney in three years.  We look forward to playing a well-coached and talented Emory team tomorrow."

Piedmont's 1st round match up with the Eagles in the NCAA National Tournament is set for Saturday, November 16th with kickoff scheduled for 11:00 am at Emory's Woodruff Physical Education Center.  General admission is priced at $6 while students with an ID and seniors can gain access for $3.  Children ages 3-12 will be charged $2 while children under the age of 3 may enter for free.

Live stats as well as a live video broadcast will be provided courtesy of the Sports Information Department at Emory University.  For complete coverage of the Emory Regional, fans can visit the Regional Homepage hosted by the Eagles.