Need to Know
Score:  Piedmont 2 - NC Wesleyan 0
Records:  Lady Lions 18-1-1 (10-1-1 USA South), Battling Bishops 7-9-2 (5-6-1 USA South)
Location: Demorest, Georgia - Walker Athletic Complex

Demorest, GA - In a rematch of last year's dramatic quarterfinal between the two, North Carolina Wesleyan College took the Piedmont College women's soccer team to the limits on Saturday afternoon in the 2015 USA South Championship Tournament before the Lady Lions came alive late to earn a 2-0 win at home.  

Piedmont was in control much of the afternoon and placed pressure on the Battling Bishops defense in the opening minutes of the second half, but NC Wesleyan was able to hang on to its shutout weathering that early storm to keep it scoreless.  With their standout youngster Ella Burkhart on a free kick in the 76th minute, NC Wesleyan look as though it might play the role of spoiler for the home team as a hard shot from about 30 out went high towards the Piedmont net.

However, PC keeper MICHAELA GARDNER was able to get just enough of the effort to touch it high off the crossbar keeping Piedmont's chances alive, and her teammates responded to the game-saving play quickly as veteran MEGAN HATFIELD was able to score just 42 seconds later giving 1-0 lead.  Hatfield absolutely crushed her chance in the waning moments as it was freshman CASSIDY REICH who found her teammate streaking through the Bishops defense.

Moments later, Hatfield would combine with Reich again with the freshman this time getting the goal as she touched a ball over the head of oncoming keeper Vanessa Batchelor after Hatfield had played the ball in.  That goal gave Piedmont a 2-0 and sent the crowd into a frenzy as the Lady Lions used the two-goal shutout win to move on to the USA South Semifinals against long-time rival Maryville next Friday.

Turning Point
--The 42 second stretch between MICHAELA GARDNER's save on a NC Wesleyan free kick that gave fellow senior MEGAN HATFIELD a chance to put Piedmont in the lead instead with a score, her 9th goal of the season.

Standout Performances
--MEGAN HATFIELD caused havoc all day for the NC Wesleyan back four before her goal in the 77th minute as she totaled three shots putting two of those on frame. 
--MICHAELA GARDNER needed only to make one save on the afternoon in the contest but it was perhaps the biggest save of the season and her career as she got just enough on a NC Wesleyan free kick to touch it off the crossbar.
--CASSIDY REICH added to her season totals with a goal and assist, same as Hatfield on the afternoon as the two were dynamic throughout the day.

Inside the Box Score
--Hatfield and Reich combined for both goals on the afternoon as Reich assisted Hatfield's goal before Hatfield earned the helper on Reich's goal less than four minutes later.  
--For Reich, she continues to lead the league in goals, assists and points with now 20 goals on the season, most since Katie Porter's 31 in 2006.

News & Notes
--The 18 wins for the Lady Lions is a new NCAA Era program record and ties the all-time program record as well set by the 1997 Lady Lions led by Head Coach Jason P. Smith, the last Lady Lion soccer team that finished in the Top 25.
--PC's 18 wins also ties the USA South Conference record set by the 1990 and 1995 Methodist Monarchs with the 1995 version finishing as the National Runner-Up that season in Division III
--Piedmont came into the contest with a 6-0-1 mark against NC Wesleyan in the last seven meetings. 
--Prior to this afternoon, the Battling Bishops had only scored in one of the seven matchups between these two programs, a 4-2 win for Piedmont back in 2012.

Up Next
Piedmont will now move on the USA South Semifinals this coming Friday with the final four of the women's soccer championships being hosted by the top seed remaining, #1 seed Meredith College who earned a 1-0 win over Ferrum with a goal in the 85th minute.  The Lady Lions will take on the #3 seed Maryville College after the Scots took care of Greensboro 6-0 earlier today in their quarterfinal contest.  PC and the Scots played to a scoreless draw earlier this year in their only meeting.

How to Follow
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