The women’s soccer team traveled over 1,000 miles over the Labor Day weekend, outscoring four different opponents by a combined score of 21-2, to open its season 4-0.
Aug. 29: Piedmont 12, Trinity Washington University 0
The women’s soccer team kicked off their road trip and 2025 season at Trinity Washington University in the nation’s Capitol, shutting out the Tigers 12-0.
The Lions’ defense held stout as Trinity Washington did not get off a single shot in the contest. The Lions started fast offensively as well with two goals in the opening 15 minutes of the game from sophomore midfielder Madison Johnson.
“Scoring in the first two minutes of the game really set the tone for the rest of the game,” Johnson said. “Coach Timmy has really harped on doing big things in the ‘Big 5’ this season and scoring in the first ‘Big 5’ of the game really started the game on a high note for us.”
In between Johnson’s two goals, Savannah Jerome netted one in the tenth minute. Following the 15-minute mark, the Lions had several goal scorers including Christina Sierra (27’), Jocelyn Maseda (37’), Zoe Harrison (55’), Keria Ferrara (62’), Savannah Jerome with her second of the game (65’) as well as two braces from Emma Bierbauer (19’, 49’) and Megan Gates (23’, 34’). The Lions also tallied assists, with two coming from Megan Gates, Keira Ferrara, and Emma Bierbauer, and one coming from Zoe Harrison.
Freshmen goalkeepers Jordan Atkinson and Kendyl Lloyd preserved the shutout.
Aug. 30: Piedmont 4, Regent University 0
Heading back down south, the Lady Lions hit the shores of Virginia Beach and defeated Regent University 4-0, giving head coach Timmy McCormack his 100th career win.
“I think the key to our performance Saturday was definitely teamwork and the high energy we brought right from the start,” senior Savannah Jerome said. “It feels amazing to be part of our coach’s 100th win. He’s an amazing coach who pushes us to be our best every day, and he’s created an environment that truly feels like family.”
With this win for the Lions, McCormack now has 100 wins in his ninth season being a coach for Piedmont. During the game, Jerome was able to lead the team with the first goal of the game. Not long after that, sophomore Alison Witkiewicz scored the first of her two goals for the Lions. Junior Adriana Blumer was able to beat the goalkeeper and score a goal, making the score 3-0.
Hannah Thompson and Maggie Leger both played a half in goal and were able to preserve the shutout.
Aug. 31: Piedmont 4, Meredith College 2
Continuing down I-95, the team stopped in Raleigh, North Carolina, defeating Meredith College 4-2.
Three minutes into the game, junior Taylor Crawford scored her first goal of the season. Crawford collected her second goal of the season, assisted by freshman Genisis Gamez, three minutes later, making the score at 2-0.
Junior Gracie Phillips scored her first goal of the season at around the 12-minute mark. The Lions led 3-0 for around 10 minutes until Meredith College scored its first goal of the game, the first given up by the Lady Lions this season.
Meredith’s scoring streak came to a quick end as the Lions gained their final point of the night from a penalty kick goal by sophomore Addi Banks en route to Piedmont’s 4-2victory. The Piedmont Lions scored all four points in the first half.
Sept. 1 vs. Piedmont 1, North Carolina Wesleyan 0
The next stop for the Lady Lions was Rocky Mount, where the team capped off their flawless road trip with a 1-0 win over North Carolina Wesleyan on Labor Day.
“We were all very confident going into the game, but we had a hard fight to get that win,” sophomore forward Sydney Spitzer said after the match.
In a tightly contested defensive battle, it was senior Peyton Gates who broke the scoreless game in the 76th minute, making her first goal since her freshman year in 2022 and sealing the win for the Lions. Goalkeeper Maggie Leger anchored the back line, playing all 90 minutes and recording four crucial saves to secure the shutout. After being outshot 5-0 in the first half, Piedmont flipped the script in the second, outshooting Wesleyan 5-1 and finding that breakthrough opportunity.
The team returned home to Demorest on Sept. 2 to learn that Savannah Jerome was named CCS Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three goals in the four contests. Freshman teammate Megan Gates earned CCS Newcomer of the Week honors after scoring two goals and an assist on the road trip. As a team, they held the top spot in the nation (NCAA Division III) in scoring after their first four games.
The Lions, off to their first 4-0 start since 2015, now prepare for their home opener on Sept. 5, when they host local rival Oglethorpe at 7 p.m. at the Walker Athletic Complex as part of a two-game weekend slate.
