Demorest, GA - After falling behind on a first half score less than ten minutes in, the Piedmont College women's soccer team was able to right the ship and recover with two unanswered goals to get a 2-1 win over visiting Bimingham-Southern College earlier this afternoon.  The Lady Lions outshot the visitors 12-10 overall in a tightly contested match that saw the two teams take four corners each with both squads using 17 players a piece.

At the 8:31 mark of the first half, Piedmont saw Birmingham Southern finally capitalize after a few early chances with Panther Kelly Craft scoring a screamer from about 30 yards out to the right corner of the net past the Piedmont goalkeeper, Marjorie Hammond.  Craft's blast put the Panthers up 1-0 early on as Piedmont tried to settle into the match.

Less than four minutes later, BSC would give up the equalizer on a defensive miscue with PC senior Laura Goodwin looping a ball into the penalty box of the Panthers who saw their keeper, Richelle Byrd, misjudge the ball and allow Taylor Hockley to battle for a touch near the net.  Hockley was able to fend off recovering Panther defenders to see the ball hit the back of the net and tie the score at one each.  After the junior forward form Piedmont brought the home team level, the two squads would trade chances from that point on, each knocking at the door though the score remained unchanged through halftime.

In the second frame, Piedmont took control not allowing BSC out of their own half much over the first 20 minutes of the second period.  After a BSC foul about eight yards outside the box gave Piedmont a free kick, it was again the senior Goodwin who would cause problems for the visiting defense in a tie game.

After freshman Caitlyn Dove tapped the ball to put it in play for Goodwin, the veteran from Snellville stepped up to crack her chance across the frame and past the outstretched Byrd who watched as the ball rattled into the back corner of her net.  PC's strike in the 64th minute gave the home team a 2-1 lead which they would hold to for the remaining 26 minutes securing a 2-1 victory over the Panthers who handed Piedmont its worst loss of 2012 with a 5-2 victory last September.

The defensive play of Piedmont's entire 11 was the story on Saturday afternoon holding strong on several late corner kicks that BSC put into the Piedmont box.  Leading the effort was North Carolina native Cydney Goodwin who played all 90 minutes in the central midfield setting the tone for PC's defensive shape with her work rate as the Lady Lions earned their fourth straight victory in 2013.  Getting the win in goal for PC was senior Marjorie Hammond who made four key saves holding a long range effort late to help PC to the win.

Piedmont returns to the field after a week off from competition playing a Saturday match next weekend against Ferrum College on the road in the first of a two-game set away from Walker.  Kickoff in the September 20th match is set for 3:00 pm and will begin Piedmont's conference schedule in 2013.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Men's NCAA Tournament First Round Recap

Vanderbilt Shocks No. 1 Florida State

Men's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview