Demorest, GA – The Piedmont College women’s lacrosse team rolled to a 22-3 victory earlier today at Walker Athletic Complex defeating the visiting Stormy Petrels of Oglethorpe University in a rescheduled contest from earlier this season.
The winter weather stopped the Lady Lions from playing OU a few weeks back, but nothing could stop Piedmont’s offensive barrage this afternoon as eight different players scored for the home team in the 19-goal decision. PC was led by five goals from both freshman Ashley Brunner and junior McKynsey Douglas as the latter is now tied for second in the league with 33 goals while Brunner came into the day with just two goals scored on the year.
Douglas also tallied a season-high six assists to lead the team in that column as well with the half dozen helpers finishing one shy of the team’s season high tallied by Maggie McDaniel in a February 28 home win over Hanover. McDaniel had seven assists and two goals in that late February win over the Panthers.
The veteran midfielder had five assists earlier today against OU as she continues to lead the team in that category this season with 21, one shy of the league leader, Carlee Joseph of Meredith.
Freshman Catilin O’Brien had four goals on the day including Piedmont’s 2nd and 5th scores as the Lady Lions rushed out to a 6-0 lead with less than 12 minutes played in Demorest. Michelle Vasques of Oglethorpe scored the first of her two goals in the game to cut it to 6-1, but PC answered with another six straight to take a 12-1 lead with 1:15 to go before the intermission.
An OU goal with less than a minute to play in the first put the halftime score 12-2 in favor of the home team, and Piedmont would leave no doubt in any spectator’s mind after the break with its third run of six consecutive goals beginning the second half with the half dozen unanswered with another two from O’Brien included in that run.
Noah Holt scored her first of the season to cap the second half start before Oglethorpe would score its third and final goal of the game at the 10:33 mark of the second half. Four more from PC put an exclamation mark on the final scoreline as the Lady Lions won going away 22-3 on their own turf.
In three meetings with the Stormy Petrels since the Piedmont program opened play in 2013, the Lady Lions have defeated the in-state foe all three times with the combined score from those meetings falling in favor of the Green and Gold by a 61-9 margin.
McDaniel was also Piedmont’s leader with her seven ground balls while the veteran tied a youngster for the team-high in draw controls with McDaniel and newcomer Francesca Malabad each totaling five. Getting the win in goal was Tiffany Slaugher who played all 60 minutes and allowed just the three scores with one save for a win in her first start in the cage this season.
Piedmont stays perfect on the year with an 8th straight win to open 2015 at now 8-0, one victory shy of the program’s best-ever start which came in the debut season of 2013.
However, the road to 9-0 has a major obstacle in the path as last year’s USA South tourney champ Meredith College comes to Walker Athletic Complex this coming Saturday, March 21 for a noon contest that is sure to be a matchup for the ages. These two last met in the 2014 USA South Championship Game with the Avenging Angels getting the better in overtime to earn the tourney title after Piedmont had won the regular season with a perfect 8-0 mark.
The rematch of last season’s instant classic will be aired live on the Mane Event Broadcasting Network with live stats, video, and audio available for the fans who can’t make it to Walker Athletic Complex.
