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Brian Gaid

Men's Soccer 8/31/2013 2:51:00 PM Contact Brian Gaid: Graduate Assistant Athletic Communications

Lions Suffer First Loss of Season Against Wildcats 1-0 at Winshape Invitational

Junior forward Vincent Thomas created several opportunities for the Lions but none were enough to beat the Wildcats defense in Piedmont's 1-0 loss today at the Winshape Invitational.

Box Score Mount Berry, GA -- The Piedmont Men's soccer team suffered their first loss of the 2013 season with a 1-0 score against Louisiana College. In their first match at the Winshape Invitational hosted by Berry College, the Lions and Wildcats both put chances on goal but only Louisiana was able to finish.

The game started off fast with both teams pressuring hard and taking chances left and right. Louisiana's forwards made several deep runs against the Stephen Sherfy and Kevin Posmer back line but the Lions staved off the attack.

On the opposite end of the field, the Wildcat's defense had it's hands full with junior Vincent Thomas and senior utility player Sean Melton running off his headers. The two connected well with each other and the supporting midfield but couldn't break through the back line in the first half.

The Wildcat's gave Piedmont a few scary moments with shots of their own in the first half. Louisiana's talented forwards put up ten shots in the first half, with five on frame. Fortunately for the Lions, Sophomore Kenneth Hearn is back tending the nets. Hearn made a pair of low extension saves early on to build confidence in the team and keep the score even.

Unfortunately, the momentum would soon shift towards the Wildcats. On a quick counter attack by No. 9, the Lions were caught flat in the back. No. 9 flicked a ball over the line into the 18 yard box for No. 8 running on who used a single touch to scoop the ball over the Lions goalkeeper coming out to defend the breakaway.

Later in the half, defender Connor Lockridge's free kick from near half field almost gave Piedmont the equalizer. The ball soared long and from enough of an angle to catch the keeper on his heels but it would not go Piedmont's way as the ball touched off the crossbar and out for a goal kick; enough to rattle the frame as well as the Louisiana defense going into halftime.

Moving into the second half, Piedmont seemed to have the upper hand. The Lions looked in much better shape after an intelligent halftime speech by head coach Jimmy Stephens. Midfielder Cameron Parsons beat several in the attacking third to give the Lions a shot on goal just over the bar early on. Sean Melton used his nimbleness to put another shot across the face of the goal, but no Lion connected on the other end.

After a stalemate match of possession kept both teams busy for much of the second half, Piedmont began sending more and more runs forward as time counted down. Possibly their best chance yet, Parsons put a corner into the 6 yard box where a mob of players connected but several deflections worked in Louisiana's favor to get the ball cleared.

With two minutes left, the Wildcat's countered into Piedmont's defensive third. A forward just fifteen yards out ripped a ball that would surely reach the goal but goalkeeper Kenneth Hearn took flight across the face of the goal to save the shot.

Hearn would have eight saves as the clock expired on the Lion's chances. Piedmont put three shots on the board compared to sixteen by the Wildcats in 90 minutes. The Lions, now 0-1 overall, will return to the pitch again tomorrow for the last match of the tournament against the host, Berry College Vikings at 1:00 p.m.. Follow tomorrow's men's soccer action live here.

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