Season Recap: Men's Lacrosse

• The Piedmont men's lacrosse team delivered another record-breaking season in 2024, with a 14-3 overall record and an excellent 7-1 mark in USA South play.
• The team's 14 overall wins marked a program record for the third consecutive season.
• Regular season play was highlighted by a dominant campaign that saw the team lose just three times.
• In the non-conference slate, Piedmont pulled off a pair of thrilling overtime wins at Berry and Sewanee. Each of those wins marked the first time had defeated the two SAA foes.
• Piedmont dominated the ‘Of the Year’ awards category for the USA South as Brady McGuire was named Offensive Player of the Year, Johnny Matrona was named Defensive Player of the Year and Tim Dunton was named Coach of the Year.
• McGuire had a fantastic offensive season, becoming the first in program history to reach 200 career points. His 100 points on the season shattered the Piedmont single season mark.

• The Piedmont men's lacrosse team rallied from two goals down in the final quarter and Connor Rogers scored the game winner in overtime to lift the Lions past Berry 12-11 on Sunday afternoon in Mount Berry, Georgia.
• The win gives Piedmont a 2-0 start to the season and the title of the Peach Cup Games.
• Piedmont raced out to a quick start to lead through much of the first half before the Vikings appeared to grasp control of the game in the second half. But the Lions were undeterred, scoring twice in the final five minutes to knot the score and then exorcising some overtime demons with Rogers' game winner.
• Senior Brady McGuire delivered a second straight hat trick to start the season, one-upping his Saturday totals with four goals and four assists Sunday to lead the team. Isaac Harrington also added a pair of goals, including the game-tying goal late in the fourth quarter while Rogers delivered a pair of goals and a pair of assists.
• Johnny Matrona made an incredible 23 saves on the afternoon, easily a career best for the senior.

Recap | Box Score

• For the second time this season, Piedmont men's lacrosse delivered a dramatic road overtime game winner, taking down Sewanee 13-12 on Saturday afternoon.
• The win is the first in program history for the Lions over Sewanee.
• This time, it was Brady McGuire who played the hero, capping an incredible performance, as his sixth and final goal of the game ended the game off an incredible pass from sophomore Zach Avila.
• The Lions led in the late going, but the Tigers were able to knot the game at 12 apiece with a goal in the final minute of regulation. Then, after a couple crucial saves from Piedmont goalie Johnny Matrona, the Lions took advantage as the first overtime period was winding down, going from defense to offense quickly, with Avila finding McGuire for the quick strike.
• It was another great performance in goal for Matrona, who finished one shy of his career high with 22 saves, after making 23 in the team's OT win over Berry earlier this season.
• McGuire added two assists to his season-high six goal total, while Michael Anderson tied his season high with three goals, his first multi-goal performance since the season opener against Oglethorpe. Avila matched McGuire for a team-high two assists on the day, including the game winner. On the defensive side, Eric Fewell added his first career goal and led the team with four ground balls.

Recap | Box Score

• The Lions dominated from the beginning, leading wire-to-wire and leaving no doubt in the opening quarter on the way to the win. The win marked the first in four tries for the Lions against the Knights.
• Isaac Harrington continued his strong play, tying his career high with five goals, which he set last time out against Spalding. He was joined by Brady McGuire, who matched him with five goals and also added a pair of assists. McGuire's seven points on Saturday gives him 199 for his career, one shy of joining the 200-point club, which would also give him the Piedmont all-time program record.
• Overall, nine different Lions scored in the contest, including goalie Johnny Matrona, who added the first of his career in addition to making 13 saves in the win.
• The Lions stormed out of the gate quickly, racking up four goals in the first six minutes to stun the Knights. Piedmont led 8-0 after the opening quarter and continued the onslaught, leading 13-2 at the halftime break.
• Out of halftime, the Lions slammed the door shut on any thoughts Southern Virginia had of a comeback, scoring six goals in a row to begin the third quarter to push the lead to 19-3.
• While the Knights tacked on a few goals in the late stages, they were never a threat, as Piedmont ran out the clock and iced away the conference-opening victory.

Recap | Box Score

• The Lions were well represented on the USA South All-Conference Listing with six honorees.
• Defender Andrew Pagano joined McGuire and Matrona on the first team.
• Will Isley, Connor Rogers and Eric Fewell earned second team spots.