Piedmont sets records and notches historic share of USA South crown

DEMOREST -- The Piedmont College women's soccer team sent its seniors out with another 1-0 win knocking off USA South foe Covenant College on Wednesday at Walker Athletic Complex. By doing so, the Lady Lions claimed a share of the USA South Regular Season Championship -- their first regular season title of any kind since becoming a NCAA Division III member in 2003.<br /> <br /> Honored prior to kickoff were the Lady Lions' three seniors graduating this year as veterans Kelsey Schaffernoth, Shayna Rogers, and Nikki Means all played what will be their second to last home game at Walker Athletic Complex earlier tonight. The three are the only senior class in the program's NCAA Era to boast two conference tournament titles, two NCAA National Tournament appearances, and a conference regular season title as well.<br /> <br /> The only score of the contest came with just minutes remaining in the first half as substitute Erin Bright forced an errant pass from a Covenant defender that took a deflection and slipped past oncoming Scots keeper Lucy Johnson -- who was coming to claim the ball. The goal was scored in the 43rd minute and stood as the game winner with Piedmont holding on for its sixth 1-0 win of the season. <br /> <br /> Playing against a high pressure attack from the Scots, the Piedmont defense, led by senior Kelsey Schaffernoth, absorbed pressure throughout the night, allowing less than a handful of clear cut chances. On one such occasion, junior goalkeeper Michaela Gardner was up to the task, making a brilliant first half save, diving to her right on a near post shot to parry the ball out of bounds for a corner kick. <br /> <br /> Gardner made five saves on the evening, as the entire Piedmont team played possession soccer in order to stifle the Covenant attack. Along with Schaffernoth, seniors Shayna Rogers and Nikki Means did their part as well in the midfield and in attack, respectively. <br /> <br /> Means had a chance blocked away by the Covenant defense in the second half, while Rogers looked to have played Kristen Newstrom in for another goal, but her shot was stopped by a diving Lucy Johnson -- who made seven saves on the night. <br /> <br /> Piedmont outshot the Scots 11-7 on the night and also held the edge in corners, six to two. But the Lady Lions needed just the one goal in their 13th shutout -- a new NCAA-era record for Piedmont. For Gardner, the shutout was her eighth solo clean sheet of the season with all but one of those coming against USA South competition.<br /> <br /> With the win, Piedmont wrapped the regular season at 14-4-1 and improved on last year's performance in conference play, winning 10 games in league action for the first time since becoming a USA South member in 2012. Finishing at 10-1-1 in the USA South, Piedmont clinched a share of the USA South Regular Season Championship along with Meredith College, but will take the No. 2 seed after tiebreakers -- due to the Avenging Angels' 2-0 win over PC back in September. <br /> <br /> The Lady Lions will now be set up to face the No. 7 seed in the league championship tournament, North Carolina Wesleyan College, in the quarterfinals which will be hosted right here at Walker Athletic Complex on Saturday. Kickoff time will be 2 p.m.