Box Score Axton, VA -- The Piedmont College women's soccer team dominated first half action in a 3-1 victory over in-state rival Covenant College earlier today in the semifinal round of the USA South Athletic Conference Championship Tournament. With the win over the Scots, the #2 seed Lady Lions earn a spot in tomorrow's tournament final against the #5 seed Avenging Angels of Meredith College who battled Piedmont to a 1-1 draw earlier this season.
Having also drawn with Covenant 1-1 in the regular season finale, Piedmont came into today's contest on fire posting seven first half shots while holding the Scots without a shot through halftime. It was
Laura Goodwin who gave Piedmont the lead with her left-footed strike from just at the top of the penalty box in the 26th minute of play as the Lady Lions grabbed a 1-0 advantage.
The score line would remain unchanged for the next 15 minutes until freshman
Marissa Akin headed away a deflected corner kick to double Piedmont's lead at 2-0 now just before the halftime whistle. Covenant keeper Hannah Bales was forced to make five saves in the half with all seven of PC's shots finding the frame.
In the second half, Covenant would cut the margin in half with a long distance strike that found the way over the head of Piedmont keeper
Michaela Gardner as the Scots pulled to within one making the outset of the second half more exciting for the fans in Axton. However, after the Covenant goal in the 48th minute of play, Piedmont settled back into the style of play that gave them the advantage in the first half starting to get the ball down to feet and move it quickly.
In the 75th minute, PC picked up the insurance goal the team was looking for as junior
Shayna Rogers looked up after receiving a pass from teammate
Cydney Goodwin only to see Bales off her line by just a few steps. As a result, Rogers looped a long shot up and over Bales for the score to make it 3-1 Piedmont, the final score line in the match.
Piedmont outshot Covenant as a team 14-4 in the match with 10 of the Lady Lions' attempts coming on goal while Covenant managed just a pair of shots on frame with one of those finding the back of the net. Covenant had two corners to one for Piedmont though PC was able to capitalize and score off that first half corner chance.
Leading the way in shots for Piedmont was
Megan Hatfield who had three shots total including two on goal. Combining in goal to allow the single score was senior
Marjorie Hammond and sophomore
Michaela Gardner who each played a half between the posts for PC.
The win puts Piedmont at 16-2-2 overall, one win shy of the NCAA era record for PC who, with a win tomorrow in the conference final, would tie that mark and send themselves to the NCAA National Tournament for the second time in three seasons. The USA South Athletic Conference Championship Game is set for a 2:00 pm kickoff on Saturday, November 9th at Smith River Sports Complex in Axton, Virginia.
