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Earls, Tekilemariam
Karl L. Moore/Mooreshots LLC
0
Berea BEREA (1-11-1 (0-5 USAS))
3
Winner Piedmont PUM (6-8 (2-3 USAS))
Berea BEREA
(1-11-1 (0-5 USAS))
0
Final
3
Piedmont PUM
(6-8 (2-3 USAS))
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Berea BEREA 0 0 0
Piedmont PUM 1 2 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Troy Weiman: Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Another Earls Hat Trick Leads Lions to Senior Day Win Over Berea

NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 3, Berea 0
Records: Piedmont, 6-8 (2-3 USAS); Berea, 1-11-1 (0-5 USAS)
 
DEMOREST, Ga. – Piedmont University's men's soccer celebrated its senior day on Saturday afternoon, and senior CAMERON EARLS made it one to remember as he tallied his seventh career hat trick to lead the Lions to victory.
 
Earls scored three header goals on perfect passes from his Piedmont teammates to bring his season total up to 18, which gives him more than any other Division III men's soccer player so far this season.
 
Pregame festivities saw Earls be honored along with teammates LULE TEKILEMARIAM, ERNESTO PLATAS, and SAM KUPERBERG, who all got the start for a special senior day celebration.
 
Offenses struggled to get going with swirling winds impacting play for much of the first half, but Earls and the Lions broke through in the 32nd minute as a perfect free-kick pass from sophomore COLE OLIVER led Earls to a header, sneaking one between the post and Berea keeper Benjamin Rado.
 
Oliver's assist marked the first point of his Piedmont career in his ninth career appearance.
 
Piedmont took that 1-0 lead into halftime, but weren't too keen on waiting around in the second half as Earls headed in his second and third goals in the 47th and 49th minutes.
 
Goal number two came on a corner kick pass from Tekilemariam that found Earls right in front of the net, making it the second time the senior duo has connected for a score this season.
 
Sophomore MIHAI STATE sent in the free-kick pass on the third goal for Earls that clinched the hat trick and effectively put the game on ice for Piedmont. The assist for State was the first of his career and the first point he had scored since a goal versus Birmingham-Southern back in February of last season.
 
Berea earned some scoring chances in the second half but never managed to break through as the Piedmont defense did just enough to keep the 3-0 lead intact.
 
Freshman keeper CJ WYBORN faced just one shot on goal, but he turned that laser-beam shot from Berea's Alexis Arreola away in the 56th minute. He and junior LANDON KETCHIE combined for the shutout in goal, the team's fourth shutout of the season.
 
Piedmont needed a win to stay in contention for a USA South postseason berth, and they got one behind another special performance from their team captain. The team will face another must-win situation next Saturday when the Lions conclude conference play versus Covenant.
 
Inside the Box Score:
- Piedmont controlled the game from the start and outshot the Mountaineers 24-11 for the game, while allowing just one shot on goal for Berea.
- The Lions earned 10 corner kicks to set a new season-high.
 
Up Next:
- Piedmont returns to the Walker Athletic Complex on Wednesday for a non-conference tilt with Emory. Kickoff is scheduled 7:00 p.m. after the Piedmont women take the field versus Wesleyan College.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.
 
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