NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Methodist 19, Piedmont 9
Records: Piedmont, 9-9; Methodist, 10-7

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Piedmont women's lacrosse team saw its season come to an end with a 19-9 loss at Methodist on Tuesday afternoon in the USA South Tournament First Round.

The Lady Lions were unable to overcome a slow start as the Monarchs jumped out to a 9-2 lead after the first quarter. Piedmont fought back and held tough in the second half, as the margin was even at 5-5 in the final 30 minutes.

Unfortunately, the damage had been done as Methodist won for the second time this season over Piedmont in Fayetteville.

Freshman MERRYN BUMPASS capped an amazing freshman season, leading the team with three goals while adding an assist. Bumpass finishes the season with 51 goals, becoming just the sixth in program history to score at least 50 goals in a season.

Junoir captain LINDLEY WARD scored twice while goalie KELLIANNE SCHLOSSER made 11 saves in the loss.

Methodist opened the scoring with a goal in the first minute of the contest and led 6-0 with just over five minutes gone. The Lady Lions answered with back-to-back goals by Bumpass and Ward, but the Monarchs scored the next five in a row to lead 11-2 early in the second quarter and remove all doubt.

Methodist led by as many as 13 goals (18-5) in the third quarter, but the Lady Lions ended the game with a solid stretch of play, scoring four of the game's final five goals to cut its final margin of defeat to 19-9.

The loss concludes the 2022 campaign for the Lady Lions, who returned to a full conference slate with yet another winning record in the USA South.

TURNING POINT:
- The Monarchs opened with a scoring onslaught in the opening minutes and never looked back in the wire-to-wire victory.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Bumpass led the way with three goals and an assist.
- Ward added a pair of goals.
- Schlosser tallied 11 saves and led the team with five ground balls.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Piedmont won the turnover battle, forcing 18 from Methodist while committing only 16.

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.