NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Centre 12, Piedmont 10
Records: Centre, 4-3; Piedmont, 3-6

DEMOREST, Ga. - The Piedmont men's lacrosse team saw its valiant comeback attempt fall just short in a 12-10 loss to Centre on Monday afternoon in Demorest.

The Lions ended the game on a 6-1 run after falling behind 11-4, putting a scare into the Colonels in the final minutes.

Senior attackman AVERY JENKS continued his outstanding season, scoring three goals and adding an assist. Jenks' final goal of the day marked the 100th of his career.
 

Freshman JADON MORINI led the team with a season-best four goals and has now scored in five straight contests, with multiple goals in three of them.

The Lions hung close early on, but the Colonels never trailed in the game and held a comfortable lead for most of the second half before the Piedmont comeback.

Centre struck first in the opening minutes and again with 9:16 left in the first quarter while holding the Lions off the scoreboard until WILLIAM FRENCH scored his first of two goals on the day, at the 5:34 mark.

Morini's first of the day, with 3:40 remaining in the opening period, cut the Piedmont deficit to 3-2. However, the Colonels answered back, scoring twice in a two minute span overlapping the end of the first and the beginning of the second quarter to extend their lead.

The Lions were held scoreless for the final 10:41 of the second quarter while Centre used a 4-0 scoring run to build a 9-3 lead.

However, after Centre added a goal with 5:01 left in the third quarter to lead 11-4, Piedmont began the furious comeback. Morini scored three of his four goals in the stretch including the final two for Piedmont on the day.

The Lions were able to get their deficit back to just 12-10 with 59 seconds left. Unfortunately, there was not enough time, as the Colonels held on for the win.

Up next, Piedmont will step back into conference play, hosting Southern Virginia this Saturday, March 26 at 12 p.m.

TURNING POINT:
- Centre held the Lions off the scoreboard for over 10 minutes in the second quarter and built an insurmountable 11-4 lead.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Morini has now scored in five consecutive games and tallied a season-high four Monday afternoon.
- Jenks became just the fifth in program history to reach 100 career goals after another three-goal performance Monday.
- JOHNNY MATRONA delivered 14 saves, keeping the Lions in the game.

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.