Piedmont’s Chris Bible scored his first goal of the season when his tally in the 13th minute put the Lions up 1-0 over Chowan who rallied for a 2-1 win over PC.
Murfreesboro, NC – The Piedmont College men’s soccer team got on the board early but could not hold on in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Chowan University, a NCAA Division II member competing in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The loss drops Piedmont below .500 for the first time since the Lions were 1-2 to start the season as the Green and Gold have now lost five of their last six after starting 5-2 in 2014.
The Lions’ Chris Bible would get the visitors on the board first in the Saturday afternoon contest between the two who faced each other for the first time in the Jimmy Stephens era at PC. Bible tucked away a Vincent Thomas pass for the score in the 13th minute handing PC a 1-nil lead early on.
Despite the early advantage, Chowan converted on a penalty kick in the 30th minute to equalize before pulling ahead for the first time on the day when Terell Williamson netted his second score of the day on a shot to the near post just five minutes before the halftime break.
Up now 2-1, Chowan had all it needed to come away with a one-goal win at home though Piedmont would push the issue in the second half with five shots including a flurry in front of goal in the closing minutes. Piedmont’s corner in the 89th minute by Matthew Metzger led to a header by defender Chris Keller which forced Chowan keeper Marco Lujan to make a key save and preserve the lead.
Just ten minutes prior to the last gasp effort, Piedmont’s Vincent Thomas would have pair of shots blocked as well as the Green and Gold could not locate the goal that would draw them level again.
Chowan led the shot count taking 22 to Piedmont’s 14 holding a 15-5 advantage in the second half alone. The home team also held an 8-3 lead in corners. Piedmont’s Kenneth Hearn chalked up five saves in the loss with all of those five coming in the second half.
Piedmont drops to 6-7 overall now on the season after a 5-2 start to the year. Four of Piedmont’s last five losses this season have come in one-goal games with the lone exception coming in a 4-1 defeat to Methodist University.
The Lions get back in action when they take on another USA South member in the Scots of Maryville College renewing a rivalry that has now spanned two league associations for both schools. The Scots and Lions combined to win all 12 of the men’s soccer conference titles handed out in the old Great South Athletic Conference.
Kickoff in the October 15 mid-week match is set for 4:00 pm at Walker Athletic Complex, and the match will be aired live on the Mane Event Broadcasting Network.
