Box Score Rocky Mount, NC - The Piedmont College women's soccer team took charge of a defensive battle with North Carolina Wesleyan College earlier today to steal a 1-0 win on the road in USA South action. The Lady Lions were outshot 11 to six in the contest, but managed to get the only one that count with a score in the 60th minute by freshman
Shayna Healy, the 9th different Lady Lion to score in 2014.
Both teams struggled to get anything going offensively in the first half combining for just five total shots over the first 45 minutes. Tied in a scoreless ballgame at the break, the second half favored the Battling Bishops statistically, but the scoreline favored the visitors as PC turned to a freshman for a magic moment in the 60th minute finding a streaking
Shayna Healy in behind the NC Wesleyan back four.
After Healy broke through the line, the youngster clinically finished with her left foot to the far post handing Piedmont a 1-0 lead with just about a half hour to go in the contest. Head Coach Stephen Andrew then placed the lead firmly in the hands of his defense and junior goalkeeper
Michaela Gardner.
Gardner, along with her defense, was up to the task making five saves to preserve the 1-0 win and her conference-leading 5th solo shutout of the season. Gardner is in the top five in the league in each major goalkeeping category including her goals against average and save percentage.
Healy led the team with her pair of shots including one goal, her first of the year, while four other Lady Lions added a shot each.
Piedmont's 1-0 result over NC Wesleyan is the 8th shutout by the Lady Lion defense over the 13 games played in the 2014 season by the Green and Gold. It's also the fourth 1-0 win for the team this season as PC won three straight 1-0 games over a 9-day period in the middle of September.
With the win, Piedmont moves to 8-4-1 and is now 5-0 against the Battling Bishops over the last five seasons. NC Wesleyan falls into a tie with Greensboro fighting for position and the last spot in the USA South championship field while Piedmont continues to keep itself in the league's top four with now 13 points through six games.
The Lady Lions won't have long to rest as they continue their trek up the coast to face Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia in another league contest tomorrow afternoon. The Saturday match on October 11 is set for a 2:00 pm kickoff.
