Women’s Soccer
The Piedmont women’s soccer team completed its marathon Mississippi trip going 2-1 in its three games over two days (Sept. 27-28).
The Lady Lions opened the weekend with a conference matchup against Belhaven University. However, they dropped this match by a score of 2-0, conceding both in the second half despite senior goalkeeper Maggie Leger’s seven saves.
The road-trip warriors then played their first of two matches on Sunday, defeating Millsaps College 4-0. Sophomore Sydney Spitzer and freshman Addie Cissell scored their first goals of the season, and senior Peyton Gates knocked in her second of the year.
In the nightcap, the Lady Lions defeated Mississippi University for Women 3-0, outshooting their opponent 14-1. Sophomore Addi Banks was the first Lion to find the back of the net, which was followed by a goal 20 minutes later from sophomore Madison Johnson, who also assisted the opening goal. Cissell then notched her second of the day in the 53rd as the Lions cruised to victory, with senior goalkeeper Hannah Thompson shutting out the Owls.
The trip capped off six consecutive road games. Earlier in the week, Piedmont defeated North Carolina’s Warren Wilson College on Sept. 21. Winning the game 3-0, the Lions dominated the game on all fronts, outshooting their opponent 27-2, and tacking on eight corners without conceding any to the opposition.
Goals were scored by senior Sierra Judson and junior Molly Fitzpatrick, with Judson registering a brace and senior goalkeeper Maggie Leger playing in the field to tally an assist.
Following this stretch of matches, Piedmont sits at 7-4 and 0-2 in conference play, outscoring its opponents 32-10 in the process while playing 10 of its first 11 games on the road.
“Our focus is definitely to keep the high energy from this weekend and allowing it to roll over into training and the match on Wednesday,” says Johnson, who leads the team in G/A (goals plus assists) with 5. “It’s going to be nice to be back at our home field, with our home fans, and hopefully with some good ole home field advantage!”
The team will host conference foe Wesleyan College on Oct. 1, before getting back on the bus for a trip to Alabama for another CCS matchup at Huntingdon College on Oct. 3, and finishing the week hosting Johnson & Wales on Oct. 5.
—August Gotter
Men’s Soccer
The men’s soccer team was shut out in its two games last week, falling 4-0 to top-ranked Emory University and losing 2-0 to Maryville College.
“Tonight’s game we knew was going to be tough going in because they’re probably the hardest team that we’re going to play all season,” said senior goalkeeper Colin Sheeler after the Lions played Emory, who is ranked second nationally in Division III. “Even though we lost, we still had a lot of things that we could pull from it as positives, and we get to move forward from that.”
Senior forward Colin Vogel was able to put two shots on goal against Emory. Senior goalkeeper Bobby would start in the first half, making six saves. In the second half, senior goalkeeper Colin Sheeler also made six saves.
The Lions traveled to Tennessee to open conference play against Maryville College on Sept. 27. In a very physical game — with 8 total yellow cards — Piedmont wasn’t able to break through, falling to the Scots 2-0.
“It was a tough loss,” said sophomore midfielder Tyler Vogt. “We didn’t start the game with the intensity that we needed to have, and we paid for it later on. Now looking forward to Covenant on Wednesday. We need to come out with greater intensity and play to the standard that we know we can play at.”
Senior goalkeeper Bobby Wood had five saves on the game. Junior forward Davis Knight was able to get four shots, with one being on target.
Piedmont is now 4-4 (0-1 in the CCS) and will play their second conference game at Covenant College on Oct. 1.
—Sydney Spitzer
Volleyball
The Piedmont volleyball team had a jam-packed weekend playing against Belhaven, Maryville and Paine College. After losing their first two matches, Piedmont returned to the court Monday and swept its match against Paine College in just three sets.
Senior Katie Hubbard said focusing on the “next point” has been the key to overcoming tough losses.
“We, as a team, have been developing the next point mentality during a match, as volleyball is a game of mistakes, and dwelling on the last points won’t help us going forward. This and making sure we continue to uplift each other helped us push through.”
Top performers from the weekend included two-time defensive player of the week senior Zoe Coelho, who recorded 37 digs for the weekend and tallied 21 more on Monday. Hubbard recorded 26 digs over the course of the three games, and sophomore Bailey Daugherty posted a personal-best eight kills in the match against Paine.
The Lady Lions (2-11, 0-2) will continue its season at home in the Cave Arena against conference foe Wesleyan College on Oct. 1.
—Adam Rogers
Women’s Tennis
The Piedmont women’s tennis team competed at the ITA Regionals on Sept. 26-28 in Atlanta. Freshman Ella Kate Canaday, sophomore Caroline Morrison and junior Brooklyn Bolch registered four wins each in singles and doubles play.
“All of us played great, and we’re so grateful to play,” Morrison said. “We all made it into the main draw in singles and got to the consolation quarterfinals in doubles.”
On the court, Morrison set the pace with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Agnes Scott’s Kayla Cuthbert, displaying clinical precision on the court. Bolch battled through a tough match to post a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Centre’s aggressive opponent. Ella Kate Canaday, the team’s new addition this year, defeated Rhodes’ Sofia Rodriguez 7-5, 6-2. In doubles play, Bolch and Canaday reached deep into the semifinals of the consolation bracket, led by a commanding 8-0 win against the Agnes Scott team.
On the horizon for the Piedmont Lions is their final fall competition, the Belmont Abbey Invite on Oct. 9, in North Carolina.
—Ace Maddox
