Men's Soccer Courtesy of Covenant Athletics

Scots Win Wild Semifinal Match in Penalty Shootout

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. -  Covenant and Piedmont played what will be remembered as an all-time classic in Saturday's CCS Semifinal match. After a winner was not decided after 110 minutes of hard-nosed soccer, the two sides went to penalty kicks, where the Scots reigned victorious. 

Final: Covenant 1, Piedmont 1 (Covenant wins in PKs 5-4)
Records: Covenant (8-5-4, 5-1 CCS), Piedmont (7-8-2, 2-3-1 CCS)

HOW IT HAPPENED (REGULATION AND OT): 

  • In just the second minute, Fox Landgren forced Piedmont keeper Bobby Wood to make a tough save on a curling effort, which began a strong start for Covenant. 
  • It wasn't until the 24th minute that the Lions put their first shot attempt of the game, one that missed out right. This started several minutes of opportunities for the away side. 
  • In the 37th minute, Jackson Bostrom put the ball in the back of the net with a right-footed shot, but it was called back for offside. 
  • At the break, Piedmont had a 5-4 advantage in shot attempts. 
  • Shortly after play resumed, a point-blank header from Daniel Wallis rattled off the top crossbar, keeping the match level. 
  • In the 70th minute, Bostrom thought he scored again, but his header was called back for another offside call by the Assistant Referee. 
  • The Scots found their breakthrough at the 80-minute mark on a corner kick as Wallis turned and fired a right-footed shot past Wood from close range. Whitt Tisdale played the ball across the box with his head to earn the assist. 
  • Less than a minute later, Landgren had another effort from deep that was well-saved by Wood as Covenant tried to find the dagger. 
  • Davis Knight equalized the match with one second left for Piedmont, driving in on the right side and avoiding a Covenant defender before smashing the ball into the left side of the net. 
  • In the first overtime period, a Piedmont foul in the box gave the Scots a penalty kick opportunity, but Wood saved Jonathan Welsh's shot that could have ended the match. 
  • Piedmont had the lone shot of the second overtime period, which missed high, as the two sides went to penalty kicks. 

PENALTY KICKS:

  • Each of the first three players for the Scots and Lions scored. Welsh, Wallis, and Tisdale netted the goals for Covenant. 
  • The first miss came from Juliann Piementel for Piedmont whose shot missed the goal high. 
  • Jackson Bostrom came up and scored his spot kick to put the Scots on the brink of a win. 
  • Delroy Mattis kept the Lions alive by scoring next before Wood stopped Landgren's effort to win the match. 
  • Eli Honeycutt delivered his big moment, saving Josh Duquette's shot and giving Covenant another opportunity to end things. 
  • Henry Parker stepped up and made no mistake, blasting the ball into the top left of the net to put Covenant in the CCS Championship. 

GAME NOTES: 

  • Covenant moves to 21-1-2 all-time against Piedmont.
  • Covenant outshot Piedmont 19-16 and had an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal. 
  • Corner kicks were in Covenant's favor 13-2. 
  • There were five yellow cards in the match, and they were all assessed to Piedmont.
  • Wallis's goal in regulation was the first of his career. 
  • The Scots have made the CCS Championship match in all four years they have been in the CCS.
  • Today marked Covenant's first penalty shootout since the 2021 USA South Championship where it defeated NC Wesleyan. 

UP NEXT: The Scots will host Maryville, who defeated Belhaven 3-2 today, on Saturday, November 8 for the CCS Championship .    

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTS

Be sure to follow the Scots all season long on athletics.covenant.edu and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news and other information.