Playing their first postseason game on the road after a home 1st Round contest Wednesday, the Piedmont College women’s soccer team defeated Covenant College 1-0 earlier Saturday in the USA South Quarterfinals.
The win gives Piedmont back-to-back Final Four appearances for the first time as a league member after joining the USA South back in 2012. Covenant came into the day having not dropped a single home decision on the year going 8-0 on the Mountain during the regular season.
However, an early opportunity for PC gave the Lady Lions just the margin they needed to get by the Scots and advance to the Semis. A penalty kick was awarded to the visitors after a Covenant Scot handled the ball in the box just before 15 minutes had been played.
Sophomore CASSIDY REICH stepped up to the spot and converted the chance to give Piedmont a 1-0 lead that the Lady Lion defense preserved with another shutout in postseason play.
Turning Point
—CASSIDY REICH‘s PK in the 15th minute edged the #2 seed in Lookout Mountain as the sophomore earned her 9th goal of the season with the early score.
Standout Performances
–Freshman keeper CIERRA BELINKIE had two key saves and several pick-ups on long services into the PK box to preserve the shutout, her 9th clean sheet in her last 10 appearances.
–The Piedmont back line did well to absorb the pressure of the Covenant attack and assist Belinkie in keeping the net clean.
Inside the Box Score
–The penalty kick today by Reich was just the third for Piedmont in the 2016 season as the Lady Lions have converted all three.
–The Lady Lions outshot the home team 10-7 on the day with the two combining for only five shots on goal.
News & Notes
–Piedmont has now played 10 USA South postseason contests since joining the league in 2012 earning an 8-1-1 record in those ten including a current five-game winning streak.
–The loss for Covenant was their first at home in the 2016 season as the Scots earned an 8-0 record throughout the regular season on Lookout Mountain.
Up Next
Meredith College, the #1 seed in the North Division in the Semifinals of the USA South Championship Tournament on Friday, November 4. The two have not met in the regular season this year as the league went to a Divisional format with each team playing each divisional opponent twice with no crossover between the two. Meredith will also serve as the host for the Final Four of the tourney throughout as the highest remaining seed from the East Division. Kickoff is set for 12:00 pm in Raleigh.
How to Follow
To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont College 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, Snapchat: @PiedmontLions and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.
