NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Piedmont 2, LaGrange 1
Records: Piedmont, 7-8-1; LaGrange, 5-4-8
LAGRANGE, Ga. - The Lions came away with a gritty overtime victory on the road against the LaGrange Panthers on Wednesday evening advancing them to the semifinals in the CCS Tournament.
Piedmont stayed hot on the offensive and defensive side of the ball as they pressed hard on the Panthers all evening.
After a decisive win against Belhaven to cap off the Lions' regular season, Piedmont looked to continue their strong momentum but in order to do that they'd have to defeat an opponent that they have not defeated since 2018. The Panthers had Piedmont's number coming into action as even earlier in the season LaGrange was able to battle the Lions to a draw despite being down 3-0 in the second half. But with a trip to the semifinals on the line, the Lions triumphed.
Despite the last meeting between the two teams totaling six goals, this contest was a defensive battle from the onset.
The two squads matched each other in the first half. Piedmont's defense showed strength against the Blazers last time out, and in the first round against the Panthers it was no different. The Lions once again sent out a backline featuring Lyric Bratton and Boris Basic for a more defensive game and it paid off as the Panthers were only able to muster four shots faced against keeper Bobby Wood in the first half.
While the Panthers kept the Lions at bay in the first half, Piedmont continued to give themselves opportunities as they worked five corner kicks and outshot LaGrange 6-4. The speedy frontline of the Lions heavily threatened in the first half with Mason Keith and Colin Vogel totaling five shots while Lyric Bratton collected the other.
The defensive showcase continued in the second half as both sides struggled to find the back of the net. The Piedmont defense protected Wood throughout the game helping their keeper stay fresh and feeding their frontline which pressured the Panthers until their breaking point in the 67th minute.
Off of an excellent service from the midfield, sophomore Juliann Pimentel and freshly selected All-CCS First Team member Davis Knight raced side-by-side before Pimentel eased a pass to Knight setting up for a thunderous strike burning past the left post and in for the game's first goal.
The Lions led in LaGrange but with just under 25 minutes left they needed to bear down. The defense held firm as the Panthers were only allowed one shot following Knight's goal but as the clocked ticked down LaGrange found their opening.
In the 87th minute, with under three minutes in the match, the Panthers set up for a long throw-in about ten yards outside Piedmont's box. LaGrange's Jacob Sagstuen leapt up to meet the ball and delivered a header to the ground that snuck past Wood, evening the score 1-1.
Piedmont could not rally back against the Panthers before the end of regulation, sending the game into overtime.
The Lions immediately pounced in overtime, pushing the Panthers into their own territory and compounding their attack from the rest of the match.
A deflection off of a LaGrange defender in the 94th minute set Piedmont up for a corner kick. The Lions filled the box, and Nico Serna readied in the far right corner for his service. The freshman lofted the ball towards the box while Lyric Bratton settled under, leapt and delivered a header past the Panther keeper, bringing home a Lion win and marking Bratton's first career goal.
The Lions' first win over the Panthers since 2018 couldn't have come at a better time as they move past LaGrange and into the semifinals.
Piedmont will remain on the road and travel to Lookout Mountain to face off against the No. 1 seeded Covenant Scots on Saturday, Nov. 1st. Game time is to be announced.
TURNING POINT:
- An overtime corner kick that set up Lyric Bratton's game winning header
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Piedmont outshot LaGrange 17-6 in the contest
- Keeper Bobby Wood only faced six shots throughout the match
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