DEMOREST, Ga. – Piedmont women’s soccer left no doubt from start to finish in a dominant 6-0 home rout of Mississippi University for Women on a warm Saturday morning in Demorest.
Sierra Judson scored twice in a three minute span in the first half, while Paige Kluba, Alison Witkiewicz, Molly Fitzpatrick and Sydney Spitzer all added goals as well.
Just over 12 hours after falling 2-0 at the hands of Oglethorpe on Friday night in Atlanta, Piedmont wasted no time putting it behind them, scoring three times in the first 20 minutes and not looking back from there on the way to the win.
It all got started in the fourth minute as junior Peyton Gates found a darting Kluba on a low cross that Kluba put away with ease to get the scoring started.
4’ | Quick work to put the Lions on top! Peyton Gates to Paige Kluba!
Piedmont 1, MUW 0 pic.twitter.com/lQkjjQujDT
— Piedmont Women’s Soccer (@PiedmontWSOC) September 7, 2024
Then, in the 18th minute, the onslaught began, with Judson putting away a penalty kick goal for her first of the year before connecting on a header off an assist from Christina Sierra just three minutes later.
21’ | Sierra Judson with a header just three minutes after a penalty kick! Two for her and three for the Lions!
Piedmont 3, MUW 0 pic.twitter.com/Kzrxpeuhql
— Piedmont Women’s Soccer (@PiedmontWSOC) September 7, 2024
51’ | Alison Witkiewicz notches her first career goal off the feed by Savannah Jerome!
Piedmont 4, MUW 0 pic.twitter.com/Nb570wf0ze
— Piedmont Women’s Soccer (@PiedmontWSOC) September 7, 2024
Although the Owls were able to keep Piedmont at bay the rest of the first half, Piedmont began to get the underclassmen involved in the scoring in the second half. The freshman Witkiewicz found the back of the net for the first time as a Lion in the 51st minute to make it 4-0 off an assist by Savannah Jerome.
In the 67th minute, it was sophomore Molly Fitzpatrick’s turn, as she scored her first off the first career assist of freshman Jeannette Mirenda.
67’ | Another career first! Molly Fitzpatrick scores Piedmont’s FIFTH goal!
Piedmont 5, MUW 0 pic.twitter.com/UBIoJbASHb
— Piedmont Women’s Soccer (@PiedmontWSOC) September 7, 2024
Spitzer finally capped the scoring in the 85th minute on the first of her career.
Overall, Piedmont controlled possession throughout and dominated the shot count, with a 30-4 edge.
Up next, the Lions will return to action at the WAC, hosting former conference foe Brevard this Wednesday, September 11th at 7 p.m.
TURNING POINT:
– The Lions delivered a first half onslaught, scoring three times in the first 20 minutes to remove all doubt.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
– Judson delivered her third career multi-goal performance, all of them coming in Demorest.
– After ranking second on the team with four goals in 2023, Kluba found her first of the season on Saturday.
– Witkiewicz, Fitzpatrick and Spitzer each tallied the first goals of their careers.
