The Piedmont University men’s and women’s soccer teams started off their 2023 seasons on Friday, September 1. The men were at home while the women traveled to Birmingham-Southern College.
Men’s soccer
The Piedmont Lions opened their season with a win over Warren Wilson. The Lions boasted three different goal scorers in the contest while goalkeeper Bobby Wood held a clean sheet.
Freshman newcomer Davis Knight announced his presence in Demorest, opening the scoring in the 16th minute. Sophomore Colin Vogel worked his way into the box before connecting with Knight, who slotted one in the upper 90.
Just before the half, newly subbed on Jonathan Ferdinand added his name to the score sheet after receiving a great ball from Knight. Piedmont took the 2-0 lead to half with goalkeeper BOBBY WOOD not facing a single shot.
Out of the break, Vogel added his first goal of the season unassisted as he carved through the Owls’ back line to extend the Lions’ lead to 3-0.
The opportunities for Warren Wilson were extremely limited, with Wood making his best save of the night in the 69th minute on a point-blank look from the Owls.
The Lions weren’t done scoring as both Vogel and Ferdinand added their second of the contest in the final three minutes of the game, as the Lions closed out with a 5-0 win.
Up next, Piedmont welcomes Mississippi University for Women to Demorest. The contest is set for Sunday, September 3, at 4 p.m.
Inside the box score:
– Three different Lions scored their first goals of the season.
– Vogel and Knight added assists in the game.
– Vogel and Ferdinand both scored two goals.
– Bobby Wood made 3 saves.
– The Lions outshot the Owls 20-8.
Women’s soccer
The Piedmont women’s soccer team opened with a Friday doubleheader.
In the afternoon, the Lions played BSC to a scoreless draw in a contest that included a first-half lightning delay. Then, following a long bus ride to Atlanta, Piedmont battled against the 14th-ranked Eagles, ultimately falling by a 7-0 score.
Game 1: Piedmont 0, BSC 0
Opening the season in the pouring rain, offense was difficult to come by for both teams, with neither able to find the back of the net.
This marks the second consecutive contest between the two teams in Birmingham that has ended in a scoreless draw.
With the game scoreless late in the first half, the game was halted for around an hour due to lightning in the area. When the game resumed, the defense continued to win the day.
Junior goalkeeper Haylee Dornan did her part to keep the Panthers off the scoreboard, as she made seven saves.
Piedmont held tough despite BSC winning the shot count by a 13-4 margin. Four different Lady Lions tallied one shot apiece.
Game 2: No. 14 Emory 7, Piedmont 0
In a rematch of last season’s NCAA Tournament matchup, the Eagles jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, scoring four times in the first half and adding three goals in the second.
Sophomore Maggie Leger Earned the start in goal for Piedmont and made a career-high 12 saves while freshman Emelia Dreger played all 45 minutes in the second half and made five saves.
The Eagles saw six different players find the back of the net out of their seven goals with Avery Thompson doubling up, scoring Emory’s second goal and final goal of the contest.
Up next, Piedmont will once again play two games in one day, as it takes to the road to battle No. 10 Wash U in Danville, Kentucky at 1 p.m. before taking on the host Centre Colonels at 7:30 p.m.
Standout performances:
– Dornan held another clean sheet, with seven saves in the opener at BSC.
