Piedmont Sports Wrap-Up: Nov. 8, 2022

Sophomore goalkeeper Haylee Dornan shut down all opponents and was named CCS Tournament MVP. PHOTO // PIEDMONT ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Emma Marti, Chad Hall, Connor Rogers, and Silas Sandles
November 8, 2022

Women’s Soccer

After a thrilling title game on Nov. 5 against Maryville College that came down to penalty kicks, the Lady Lions soccer team were crowned the first-ever champions of the College Conference of the South (CCS).

The stakes were high for the team as heading into the game. On Nov. 2, Piedmont squeaked by Covenant College with 1-0 win in the semifinal game. Riding a four-game winning streak into the championship game, the Lady Lions were defending a conference championship they won last year in the USA South Conference. Playing host for the conference final, the Lady Lions expected the Scots would be looking for revenge after Piedmont defeated them 3-0 on Oct. 15.

“We knew Maryville would come out super strong,” senior midfielder Kaity Hemperly said. “We all worked great together, but came up short on our attack.”

Possession went back and forth throughout the game on a wet field under overcast skies at the Walker Athletic Conference. Excellent defense and perfect goalkeeping kept each team scoreless. The game headed into overtime as rain began to pour down. Maryville outshot Piedmont 6-2 in overtime, but sophomore goalkeeper Haylee Dornan continued to shut down the Scots, causing the game to penalty kicks to break the 110-minute stalemate.

The Scots quickly earned a 2-0 lead in penalty kicks and were facing defeat until senior forward Kaylee King broke through, scoring with a kick off her left foot to make it 2-1. Dornan stopped the next Scots’ kick before graduate student Katy Brown tied it up at 2 with a laser shot through the hands of Maryville’s goalkeeper. After another save by Dornan, Hemperly took her shot, burying the ball in the bottom left of the goal to give the Lady Lions the inaugural conference championship.

“When we went to penalty kicks, we were super nervous because it really is anyone’s game at that point,” Hemperly said. “I’m so proud of our goalie, Hayley Dornan, and everyone who stepped up to take a PK. It truly was such an amazing way to end the season.”

For her efforts throughout the tournament, Dornan was named CCS Tournament MVP. Through three games, the sophomore goalkeeper was perfect protecting the net, earning 9 total saves.

With the CCS title under their belt and a 13-5-1 overall record, the Lady Lions earned an at-large bid for the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Tournament, the team’s first appearance in the national tournament since 2018. Piedmont will play at Emory University on Nov. 12 in the first round of the tournament.

—Emma Marti

Volleyball

The Piedmont volleyball team wrapped up their 2022 campaign with a quick exit in the CCS Tournament.

Entering the tournament as the 6th seed, the Lady Lions headed to Montgomery, Alabama on Nov. 1 to play #3 Huntingdon College in the first round of the tournament. The team was swept in three sets 14-25, 15-25, 15-25 to the Hawks, finishing the season with 6-21 (6-10 in the CCS).  

The Lady Lions placed one player on the all conference team — junior libero Taylor Hermann earned second team All-CCS. A remarkable feat for the junior libero. Hermann led the team with 526 digs, shining in her first season as the team’s full-time libero. Hermann should easily be able to reach the career milestone of 1,000 digs next year. She currently sits at 826 career digs.
Amidst a tough season, Piedmont did have spurts of excellence throughout the season, including six conference wins over Agnes Scott, Wesleyan and Lagrange. The Lady Lions also battled two of the top teams in the conference when they hosted a CCS tri-match at Cave Arena, taking Berea College to five sets in and Huntingdon College to four sets.
“It was the toughest season we have endured, so it will be hard to forget,” said senior Ciera Phelps, who will be one of five seniors graduating this year. “I think it provided a lot of great learning opportunities the juniors and underclassmen can use moving forward.”
Piedmont will have seven seniors guiding next year’s squad. “If the right adjustments are made, the program can have an opportunity to grow and flourish into something great,” Phelps said.
The Lady Lions are returning plenty of leadership next season, and a very decent sized roster. The team’s underclassmen continued to develop in 2022, with players like Jenna Ash, Jessica Sconyers, Jia Weathersby, Vanessa Manzo and Sara Bevill among the team’s statistical leaders.
“I think we will still have a strong set of hitters. I am excited to see our new recruits,” said sophomore middle blocker, Jessica Sconyers. “I am hoping everyone plays their part playing the sport they love and we can come together as a team next season.”
—Chad Hall
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball team was looking for a hot start this year against a top opponent, traveling to Atlanta to face  Emory University in Atlanta on Nov. 7. Emory has a top Division III basketball program, and although the Lions led early in the game and stayed close through the first half, Piedmont ran out of firepower, losing 85-67.
“It is good to get our first game under our belt, and despite the loss I am proud of how we played,” said senior guard Orry Clements-Owens. “We have definitely gotten better as a team this year and I’m super excited to see what we can do this season.”
After jumping out to a 24-14 lead, the Lions trailed by 9 points at halftime, 37-28, and hoped to bounce back in the second half. Unfortunately, Emory had other ideas as the Eagles shot .456 for the game (.389 from 3-point range) to win 85-67. Clements-Owens  led the team with 13 points, shooting 3-for-8 from the 3-point line and 4-for-9 from the field. Junior Noah Readon finished with 10 points and shot 3-for-9 from the field. Facing more tough competition, on Nov. 8 the Lions will travel to Rock Hill, South Carolina to play Division I Winthrop University in an exhibition game. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
—Connor Rogers
Men’s Swimming

The Piedmont men’s swimming team continued their undefeated fall season with a dominant 193-28 victory over Warren Wilson College on Nov. 5.

Eight different Lions won individual events and three Lions — sophomore Leandro Forero, freshman Luke Borgmann and junior Ross Coppedge — won two events each. Forero continued his impressive sophomore season winning the 100-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle, finishing 13 seconds faster then the next opponent. Borgmann took first in the 50-yard backstroke as well as the 200-yard individual medley, while Coppedge took first in the 50-yard breaststroke and the 50-yard butterfly. Junior Jon Brown won the 100-yard butterfly, freshman Parker Reason won the 100-yard backstroke, freshman Aiden Smith won the 100-yard breaststroke, junior Matthew Luther won the 500-yard freestyle, and freshman Baden Stewart won the 50-yard freestyle giving the Lions a total of 11 individual wins. In the team events the Lions won the 200-medley relay as well as the 200-mixed medley relay.

“Well this meet I feel like everyone did their part. Everyone had outstanding performances, even though we were all tired from double practices” said sophomore Leandro Forero. “We are trying to keep our undefeated streak alive. This meet was getting us ready for the midseason invite and hoping we all do well.”

The Lions will travel to Columbus for the Georgia Small College Championships Nov. 17-19.

—Silas Sandles