Head Men’s Soccer Coach Jimmy Stephens has released the 2016 schedule highlighted by 10 home contests at Walker Athletic Complex.
Fans of the Green and Gold will have the chance to see the Lions in action early and often as Piedmont opens the season on September 1 at home against Bob Jones University at 7:00 p.m. under the lights.
Of the team’s 18 regular season contests in 2016, just eight come away from the friendly confines of Walker Athletic Complex while 10 are at home including a five-game home stretch over the second half of the season.
The 2016 season will begin against Bob Jones University on September 1 with two prior meetings between the two. A contest was scheduled for last season but canceled due to inclement weather. Following the season opener, the Lions will be traveling to Greensboro, North Carolina to take on Guilford College looking for their first win over the Quakers.
Piedmont will return home on September 6 to take on local foe Toccoa Falls College as the Lions are a perfect 11-0 against the Screaming Eagles in the NCAA Era (starting in 2003) outscoring Toccoa 47-6 in those 11 meetings combined. The Lions return to the road to face Sewanee on September 10 as the Tigers are coming off a runner up finish in the SAA Tournament in 2015.
A three-game home stretch begins on September 14 with Emory & Henry College visiting Demorest as Piedmont posts a perfect 4-0 record against the Wasps. USA south play opens at home with Averett and William Peace in town on back-to-back dates beginning September 16 with both contests slated for a 4 p.m. start. Piedmont won 1-0 against the Pacers in 2015 and dropped a close 3-2 contest against the Cougars.
Four straight road games follow the home stand as Piedmont will take on Huntingdon College September 23 then face Emory University September 27. The Eagles traveled to Demorest for an exhibition contest in 2015 as the two teams have met for a total of 10 regular season contests.
Following the short trip to Atlanta, the Lions will head to Berea College in Kentucky after facing the Mountaineers for the first time in program history last season on senior day. Piedmont came away with a 2-0 victory over the Mountaineers as Berea finished 9-7-1 in 2015. The final game of the four-game road trip will be at Maryville College on October 4.
The second half of the season will feature a five-game home stand with fans of the Green and Gold having plenty of opportunities during the month of October to see the Lions in action at Walker Athletic Complex. It all begins with LaGrange visiting on October 7 before the final non-conference game of the season as Trinity College travels north to face Piedmont on October 8.
The final five games of the regular season come in conference play with Ferrum, Greensboro and Covenant all coming at home on October 14, 15 & 18 respectively. The Lions will then hit the road taking on Methodist and N.C. Wesleyan to finish the regular season.
All roads lead to the USA South Championship Tournament which will once again be hosted on campus sites beginning October 29.
The Lions kick off the 2016 season at home against Bob Jones University on September 1 with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff under the lights in Demorest. All home action, for the fourth year in a row, will be broadcast live on Piedmont’s own Mane Event Broadcasting Network with live video and live stats integrated into one broadcast.
For the complete 2016 schedule, click here.
