NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 10, Methodist 3
Records: Piedmont, 5-3 (2-0 USA South); Methodist 4-4 (0-1 USA South)

DEMOREST, Ga. - The Piedmont University men's lacrosse team took advantage of key opportunities and relied on stellar defense to pick up a 10-3 victory over the visiting Monarchs of Methodist University earlier Saturday afternoon in a conference clash. 

Piedmont's win keeps them perfect in USA South play while handing Methodist a loss in their conference opener of 2025.  

The contest was a special one for the coaching staff as it marked the return of former Lions assistant coach Ryan McKay to Walker Athletic Complex.  McKay departed Piedmont after a long career as an assistant with the Lions to take over as the Head Coach at Methodist prior to the 2024 season. 

Despite the happy homecoming, that would be about as much as of a welcome as the Lions were willing to give as Piedmont turned a 6-2 game at the end of the 3rd into a 10-3 rout with the host scoring three goals in the opening five minutes of the 4th quarter. 

The story on the day was the performance of Mike Eisele in the cage as each Methodist attempt to rally was thwarted by one of his 15 saves on the day.  

The two squads found themselves all tied up at two after Methodist's Nate Moore scored with under a minute to play in the 1st, but that would be the last goal the Monarchs earned until posting their third of the game after nearly 40 minutes of game action had passed.  

Piedmont instead answered Moore's late 1st quarter goal with an Ian Parr score with just 18 seconds left in the opening period, one of three on the day for the senior out of Florida. 

Parr's goal at the end of the 1st started a stretch of eight straight goals by Piedmont including two in the second, one in the third, and four back-breaking 4th quarter goals that sent Methodist packing.  

TURNING POINT:
- Suffocating defensive pressure by the Lions to start the 4th quarter which caused a failed clear attempt by Methodist, an error that directly to a Piedmont score by Zach Avila and started a 4-goal run by the home team that put the lid on the win.  

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Piedmont goalie Mike Eisele was the difference in the shot columns as the junior posted 15 saves, four shy of his season-high 19 against Sewanee a few weeks back.
- Ian Parr and Isaac Harrington each posted a hat-trick on the afternoon led by several highlight scores that set the tone for the Lions.  

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: 
- The stat sheet showed little separation in several categories between the two foes with Methodist holding a 34-33 shot advantage.
- In fact, in several team categories, neither team outdid the other by more than four including ground balls and turnovers.

UP NEXT: 
- Nothing but more conference competition remains on the '25 schedule beginning with William Peace in a week as the Lions travel to Raleigh to face a Pacers team that picked up its own conference win earlier Saturday with a slim 9-8 victory over Huntingdon.  

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 X: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook.