Need to KnowScore: Piedmont 11 - Mary Baldwin 0Records: Lady Lions 7-0 (2-0 USA South), Fighting Squirrels 3-4 (0-2 USA South)Location: Demorest, Georgia - Walker Athletic ComplexDemorest, GA - Freshman CASSIDY REICH scored just two minutes into today's 11-0 win for the Piedmont College Lady Lion soccer team over visiting Mary Baldwin College earlier today at Walker Athletic Complex as PC is off to its best start in the program's NCAA Era at now 7-0 overall.
In 2011, the Lady Lions started off 6-0 before tying Meredith in their 7th game of the season for a 6-0-1 start to the year before going 13-0-1 to post the best 14-game start to a year. Piedmont's seven consecutive wins is also the longest winning streak in Stephen Andrew's tenure as the Head Women's Soccer Coach for the Green and Gold as well.
Reich was one of two Lady Lions to post a hat-trick in today's game as youngster COURTNEY BELL also scored three on the day with her goals all coming in a 82-second stretch just before halftime that gave Piedmont a 6-0 lead at the intermission. Five other Lady Lions scored in today's contest as well including forward MEGAN HATFIELD who picked up her fifth of the season, two behind Reich's team-leading seven on the year.
Three scored their first career goals today including Bell as well as freshmen JAZMIN PENADO and CHARLOTTE MERZ. For Merz, it was a header on a TABEA SOELTER corner kick in the second half, one of two assists for Soelter, that gave Merz her first career score.
For Penado, the score came with flare from both her and teammate Reich with the two combining at the top of the box before Reich scooped a pass over the backline for Penado to touch over the head of the oncoming Fighting Squirrels' keeper. Turning Point--
COURTNEY BELL's hat-trick just before the end of the first half which came in just 82 seconds, one of the fastest hat-tricks in NCAA Division III history as the fastest came in 42 seconds by Mallory Koula in October of 2011 in a Lawrence v. Beloit game.
Standout Performances--
COURTNEY BELL earned not only her first career hat-trick, but her first career goal as well earlier today scoring the first in the 42nd minute as Piedmont led 3-0 at the time.
--Also earning her first career hat-trick was
CASSIDY REICH as the freshman from Largo, Florida now leads her team with seven goals in the season, 2nd most in the USA South...Reich also tacked on two assists to her daily totals as well.
Inside the Box Score--Piedmont out-shot the Fighting Squirrels 29 to one with
ASHLYN ATNIP coming up with the lone save on the day.
--The Lady Lions took eight corners and did not give up one to the Fighting Squirrels.
--The 29 shots is the most by Piedmont this season besting the 19 put up in a 7-0 win over Agnes Scott to open the season.
News & Notes--In Piedmont's three previous meetings with the Fighting Squirrels, the Lady Lions outscored Mary Baldwin 26-0 with the largest margin of victory coming in 2012 with a 10-0 win.
--Senior MICHAELA GARDNER put in another scoreless performance for the Lady Lions in the net, her sixth such showing in 2015...Her goals against average dropped to 0.16 after the day.Up NextA road trip up the East Coast to play William Peace University on Friday, September 25 and Averett University the following day. Kickoff vs. William Peace on Friday is set for 2:00 pm, the same time the Lady Lions will take on the Cougars the next day.
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