NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 17, Huntingdon 11
Records: Piedmont, 9-7 (7-2 USA South); Huntingdon, 4-10 (2-6 USA South)
DEMOREST, Ga. - Piedmont men's lacrosse pulled away from Huntingdon in the third quarter with four unanswered goals to secure the win and advance to the semifinals.
The Lions started hot with three goals in the first five minutes of the contest with the first of the game coming in the first thirty seconds out of the pocket of
Grady Eyler.
Piedmont looked to keep the Hawks at a distance, rattling off eight goals in the first quarter.
Huntingdon fought back with a pair of goals in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Hawks held the Lions back, sporting great defense to cool the red hot Piedmont offense, shutting out the home team in the quarter. While also playing good defense, the Hawks tallied a goal at the start of the quarter.
As the minutes ticked down rain began to fall at a steady pace over the field and with a minute and a half left, the game would be delayed due to lightning in the area.
When play resumed the two squads ran down the clock and prepared for a pivotal third quarter.
The third quarter began with a goal from Eyler once again giving the Lions a 9-3 lead. Huntingdon answered with a goal of its own, as the Hawks looked to climb out of their early 8-2 deficit, now trailing 9-4.
Huntingdon scored once more before
Josh Tamarkin fired his third goal of the game. The Hawks found the back of the net again bringing the score to 10-6.
In a four score game, the Lions looked to rally with three minutes left in the quarter.
Noah McGriff broke free from the Hawk defense and rattled in the Lions 11th goal of the game. Next, Eyler found the back of the net again with a another goal with just under two minutes remaining.
The offense was running hot and continued the hot streak with two more goals in the final minutes of the quarter, one from Tamarkin and one from
Will Isley.
The four goal run swept the momentum from the Hawks and put the Lions up 14-6 going to fourth.
Huntingdon rallied for a last chance run in the fourth, scoring five times to close the game, but the early gap from the Piedmont offense along with the third quarter run created an insurmountable lead.
Piedmont started the tournament off hot with hot streaks that can kick-start the whole team.
Eyler and Tamarkin led the team in goals with both scoring five a piece.
Next, the Lions prepare for semifinal action against Southern Virginia, whom they have not faced since March.
The semifinal round is set for Thursday, April 30th in Misenheimer, N.C.
TURNING POINT:
- Piedmont's two runs in the first and third quarter that set the gap between the two squads.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Tamarkin and Eyler collected ten goals between both players, scoring five goals individually.
-
Noah McGriff tallied four assists in the performance.
- Mike Eislee was credited with 13 saves and collected a team high eight ground balls.
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.
