NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 17, Methodist 11
Records: Piedmont, 5-4 (1-0 USA South); Methodist, 3-6 (1-1 USA South)
DEMOREST, Ga. - The Piedmont men's lacrosse team concluded its season-long home stretch and opened the conference slate with a 17-11 win over Methodist on Saturday afternoon in Demorest.
The Lions dominated defensively in the first half and the offense took over in the second half in the team's second straight win overall. The five-game homestand concludes with a 3-2 record including wins in the last two games.
MICHAEL ANDERSON delivered a hat trick for the third consecutive game, scoring three times and adding two assists. Fresh off reaching the 100-career point mark with an eight-point effort last time out against Va. Wesleyan,
BRADY MCGUIRE added a team-high four goals and three assists in the 17-goal effort for the Lions.
Standout defender
ANDREW PAGANO tallied a season-best five caused turnovers and as a team the Lions forced 31 from the Monarchs.
Piedmont opened the scoring in the early minutes despite being a down a man as a beautiful pass from Anderson found McGuire. Then, it was McGuire's turn to return the favor, finding Anderson with 9:12 left in the opening quarter to make it 2-0 Lions.
However, the Monarchs answered with a furious run of scoring that saw them erase their deficit and add a two-goal lead heading to the second quarter.
The Lions were able to find their footing as
JACOB HASBROUCK's lone goal of the contest halted the Methodist rally and sparked a 4-0 Piedmont run in the second quarter to retake the lead at 6-4 going into halftime with two of the goals coming from sophomore
JADON MORINI.
Piedmont kept the momentum up as freshman
ISAAC HARRINGTON found the back of the net just over a minute into the second half to give the Lions a game-high three-goal advantage.
From there, the Lions were able to keep the Monarchs at arm's length, leading by at least five goals for the entirety of the fourth quarter.
Up next, Piedmont will play its first road game since mid February, as it will travel to take on William Peace next Friday, March 24 at 3:30 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
- After a 4-0 Methodist run to close the first quarter, Piedmont responded by scoring the game's next five goals to reestablish control.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- McGuire has now tallied 15 points over his past two games, both Piedmont victories.
- Anderson has scored 10 goals over his last three games, with three today.
- Piedmont delivered 19 caused turnovers as a team, led by a season-best five from Pagano.
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Piedmont has now won three in a row against Methodist.
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.
