The 2016 season got off to a thrilling start for Head Coach Jimmy Stephens and his youthful Lions soccer squad as a pair of freshman combined to score for PC in a 2-1 win in overtime against visiting Bob Jones University.
The Bruins took the lead on Jared Simmons’ turn-around volley in the 19th minute just outside the 18, a score that came just a few minutes before a lengthy weather delay in Demorest. Coming back after the forced break, Piedmont’s VICTOR MUNOZ scored after a miscue from the Bruins allowed the ball to drop to the freshman in the penalty box.
Munoz’ calm finish must have spurred the storm as the bottom fell out at Walker Athletic Complex with rain pouring down on the turf of the tie game. Neither team was able to find the net in the second half though PC had the better of the chances with six shots to two for BJU as the two would need overtime to settle the score.
In front of a packed house which stuck it out through the weather, Piedmont applied the pressure in overtime as well with clever combination play on the right flank between CULLEN COPLAND and CRISTIAN ALEGRIA allowing Alegria to find space about 25 yards out from goal with just under a minute to play in the first OT period.
With the Bruins’ defense opening up, Alegria had just enough room to launch a blistering right-footed shot from distance which rose over the BJU keeper looking like the gamewinner until it drilled off the crossbar.
As BJU keeper Andrew Kester had dove to solve the effort of Alegria, the ball rebounded off the bar and down into the goal box where a composed TOMMY HILL awaited for the chance to be the hero, an opportunity he made the most of heading away the golden goal into the side netting.
Hill’s score sent the Piedmont bench cascading out on the turf with a packed house there to celebrate as well as the Lions took home an overtime win to start off the 2016 season with a bang.
Turning Point
–No doubt it was TOMMY HILL‘s header that served as the exclamation mark on an impressive performance by a young Piedmont team as he nodded away the rebound of CRISTIAN ALEGRIA‘s long distance effort off the crossbar.
Standout Performances
—TOMMY HILL was the hero of the night with his OT winner, but VICTOR MUNOZ also scored in his Lions debut as the freshman tied the score up at one after the weather delay in the first half.
—MITCH BARRY had a pair of saves in goal for Piedmont in another freshman debut for the Lions while his counterpart, Andrew Kester, was forced to make nine saves for BJU.
–Bob Jones’ Jared Simmons gave the Bruins an early lead scoring on a turn-around volley just at the top of the box in the 19th minute.
Inside the Box Score
–Piedmont outshot BJU on the evening 15-9 with 11 of their 15 finding the target.
–Hill’s goal would not have been possible without CRISTIAN ALEGRIA‘s shot off the crossbar which allowed for the follow-up by the freshman from South Georgia.
—TOMMY HILL‘s header in the final minute of OT was the youngster’s first score of his collegiate career.
News & Notes
–A weather delay slowed down the contest just past the midway point of the first half as both teams had to hold off before returning to the field of play.
–Bob Jones also had a weather issue in its first contest of the season with a game called after 65 minutes and the Bruins leading 2-0.
Up Next
The Lions head to Greensboro, North Carolina to take on Guilford College Sunday, September 4 with a 2 p.m. scheduled start.
How to Follow the Lions
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