NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 10, Transylvania 18
Records: Piedmont, 0-1; Transylvania 1-1
DEMOREST, GA— The Piedmont University men's lacrosse team fell in their season opener earlier this afternoon with Transylvania using a second quarter rush to power to a 18-10 win in the neutral site contest between the two sides.
The match-up with Transylvania, played in the Music City Classic hosted in Nashville, Tennessee, is the 7th time these two have faced each other. However, Friday's showdown, hosted by the Ensworth School, was the first neutral site meeting in the series.
The only real separation in the contest came in that fateful second quarter as Piedmont stayed within a goal in every other period including the 4th when the Lions matched the Pioneers' scoring pace.
After Transylvania scored three straight to open the game in the first six minutes, Piedmont used back-to-back goals from
Grady Eyler and
Tate Claudio to even the score at three each with a few minutes remaining in the 1st quarter.
With Transylvania scoring in the final minute of the 1st to take a 4-3 lead, it was the Pioneers who then took control for good with three scores including one man-up to post a 7-3 advantage with 12:39 to play in the second.
Though Piedmont made good on its own man-up opportunity as
Nick Winter scored to make it 7-4, Transylvania scored four straight to end the half including a crushing Jack Miller score with just 15 seconds left on the clock in the second.
The final two quarters were fairly even as Piedmont scored six times compared to the Pioneers' seven. However, the decision was made prior to the break as Transylvania went on to win by eight.
The Lions will be back in action tomorrow, February 14 as Piedmont stays in Nashville for a high noon Valentine's Day date with Bridgewater College. The Eagles, who trailed midway through the 4th quarter, rallied to win their opener today in the Music City Classic in dramatic fashion scoring two late goals to knock off Illinois Tech.
TURNING POINT:
- With Piedmont only trailing by a goal headed into the 2nd, Transylvania took over scoring 11 of the next 12 in the contest to overtake the Lions in their season opener in Nashville.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Three Lions tallied two goals each in the opener with
Zach Avila,
Nick Winter, and
Grady Eyler all scoring twice while Winter added a pair of assists to his total.
- Two from Transylvania put in four scores each with Andrew Welch and Charlie Horner accounting for eight goals as Horner scored three of his four in the second period.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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