DATE: Feb. 7, 2016

2015 Stats at a Glance PC MC Record 4-12 3-11 Conf. Record 1-3 0-6 Goals Scored per Game 10.19 8.86 Goals Against per Game 10.88 14.55 Shots Percentage .282 .243 Shots per Game 36.1 36.5 Clear Percentage .832 .706

TIME: 12 pm ET
LOCATION: Demorest, GA
FACILITY: Walker Ath. Complex
LIVE STATS: Follow Here
BROADCAST: Watch Here
TV/INTERNET: Mane Event Broadcasting Network
TWITTER: @PiedmontLions
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Demorest, GA - Not many thought when new Head Men's Lacrosse Coach Tim Dunton came to Piedmont last summer that he would be entering familiar territory.  However, having spent the last 13 years at Division III Lasell College in Massachusetts, Dunton sees it as exactly that finding several similarities to his time building up the Lasers. 

"Lasell was a great opportunity for me to learn who I was as a coach," said Dunton of his experience up north. "What we were trying to do there back then is not dissimilar to here as far as building the program the right way by taking the right steps.  It was a way to curtail our style by bringing in the right type of people, good character kids, good athletes, and good students. That has probably prepared me for life in general but certainly for my next step and challenge here at Piedmont."

Dunton won't be short of weapons to use this spring as he returns senior TAYLOR CARTER on the attack along with eight other seniors on the roster to help ease the transition of the new man on the sidelines.  Carter brings back 29 goals from last season, tied for the team-high in 2015, but Dunton knows that the Lions will need to rely on other younger pieces to the puzzle as well for success in '16.

"He's (Carter) been a nice piece to build around in our offense, somebody who can put the ball in the cage when given the right opportunities.  We feel like we have another piece down there in BRITT KENNEDY and we'll be trying to get him the ball as well.  Those two guys in general in the attack unit will help us tremendously throughout the year and we are looking to lean on Taylor to have a big year for us too."

Though many seniors return for another season at Walker Athletic Complex, Dunton knows that the key to his team's ability to attack will rely on allowing his team to play fast by keeping the x's and o's simple letting the talent on the field shine without over-thinking the goal.

"We are going to try to keep it as simple as possible trying to get these guys to understand how to attack on the field and where to attack the defense," Dunton noted. "Britt (Kennedy) is the prototypical type of an attackman. Branson (Mikell) is a dynamic offensive player from up top with the ability to split and dodge any way he wants to go, from his left to his right or right to left."

With options varied on the attack, it's been a veteran that has stepped up in the cage for Dunton as DALE MORLEY returns for his senior season looking to help shore up the Lions defensively.  Morley brings a 5-5 record with him as a starter but more importantly carries a veteran savvy in several different areas, a factor favored by his Head Coach. 

"He's (Morley) been good for us, he's been a good leader in the cage," said Dunton of his senior goalie. "He's starting to grasp what we're trying to do defensively.  He's got a good stick and clears the ball very well, but ultimately he saves the ball very well."

With the experience returning, the opening opponent is a very familiar face as the Lions open against Millsaps for the fourth straight season. The Majors come to Demorest for the February 7 showdown and though Dunton has his team readying for the foe, the coach as knows it's a great chance to help his team get ready for the road ahead as well. 

"Millsaps gives us a great opportunity to get out against a team that is very similar to us," said Dunton. "It's a good opener to give us a feel of what we are trying to do but also gives us an opportunity to have our guys look at some film as well helping us to get better as we go."

It all starts on Sunday, February 7 for the Lions with the noon start against the Majors of Millsaps College. The contest will be carried live on the Mane Event Broadcasting Network for those unable to make it to Walker Athletic Complex for the opener with live video and stats available.  Former Lion PATRICK AMMONS who graduated following last season will be providing play-by-play analysis of the contest live on the MEBN as a special treat to the folks at home. 

STORYLINES
--The 2016 season begins the Tim Dunton era for Piedmont men's lacrosse
--Veterans litter the roster with nine seniors on the team
--Replacing a pair of 100-goal scorers after the graduation of NICK GREEN and SPENCER ORTIS
--New face in the cage for Piedmont

GAME FACTS
The Lions will be hosting the Majors of Millsaps in a Sunday contest on February 7 to open the 2016 season.  The game is set to start at high noon at Walker Athletic Complex with live video and stats available for those unable to make it to Walker Athletic Complex. 

THE COACHES' CORNER: A TAKE FROM HEAD COACH TIM DUNTON 
On returning experience on the 2016 roster: "It helps a lot as far as what we're trying to do.  Obviously you have to get them to buy into your program, but the fall was really helpful with that as we were trying to get them to understand what we are trying to do and the building blocks of what we're trying to put in place for the future.  It's been a good process having those guys to be able to show the younger guys what it takes to be a college student-athlete."

Regarding the SEILC in year two of existence: "I think the whole schedule is set up perfectly for the SEILC. Obviously, we want to have success in the early part of our schedule, but if you're trying to win a championship, then those last four games is what matters and ultimately the playoffs at the end of April. We are going to try to do everything in our power to continue to progress as a team, and hopefully we are peaking at the right time playing against those teams."

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The series weighs heavily in favor of Piedmont with the Lions posting a 4-0 all-time mark against the Majors winning last year's match-up 19-10.

SCOUTING MILLSAPS (Southern Athletic Association)
Millsaps comes into the 2016 season after having posted a 3-11 overall record last season with wins against UT Dallas, Fontbonne, and Centenary. This is the fourth straight season that Millsaps has served as the season opener for Piedmont with the Lions going 3-0 in those meetings. 

Under the direction of Coach John Hoeffler who arrived in the fall of 2013, the Majors return several veterans key to their 2016 success including Scholar All-American and All-SAA selection Jack Houtz.  Houtz led the team last season in scoring, ground balls and face-off wins with 109.

In last season's meeting, Houtz tallied a hat-trick at home against the Lions while Piedmont's returning leader on the attack, senior TAYLOR CARTER, scored four himself.  

NOTHING NEW ABOUT THE MAN FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE
With the departure of a pair of 100-plus goalscorers after NICK GREEN and SPENCER ORTIS graduated in 2015, the path is clear for TAYLOR CARTER to shoulder the load of the attack, but it won't be uncharted territory for the senior.  Carter actually tied Green for the team lead last season with 29 goals to his name and has scored at least 20 goals in each of his first three seasons in Demorest.

FACE OF THE PROGRAM
With the graduation of SUMNER GANTZ last season, the now Graduate Assistant Coach will be looking for a new man to step up on the face-off as Gantz primarily held that role in seasons past since arriving as part of the inaugural recruiting class in 2011-12.  In four meetings with the Majors, Piedmont has won the face-off battle three times.  

NEXT UP FOR PIEDMONT
Following the season opener at home vs. Millsaps on Sunday, the Lions will host Birmingham-Southern on Friday as PC plays three of its first four games in the friendly confines of Walker Athletic Complex.