RALEIGH, N.C. — In a dramatic finish the Piedmont women's soccer team came away with a 1-0 win in double overtime on Saturday over fouth-seeded Methodist University to claim the 2015 USA South Championship.
The two played through almost 110 scoreless minutes until PC's Cassidy Reich scored with only 15.3 seconds left to hand Piedmont the double overtime victory and its second conference title in three years. Though Reich's magic moment would hand Piedmont the win and her the MVP trophy for the tourney, Piedmont's season was saved midway through the first overtime period in perhaps the biggest moment of the game.
In the 95th minute, a penalty kick was awarded to Methodist for a hand ball in the box with MU's Taylor Cavazos stepping up to take the kick and the season as well as the USA South title within grasp. However, sure defeat turned to pure elation when Cavazos' strike to the left was saved by Piedmont goalkeeper Michaela Garnder who read the shot and made a brilliant 2-handed save to keep her team alive in postseason play.
Now with the moment of brilliance having occurred in the defensive half, Piedmont would make good on its second chance after the Lady Lions earned a free kick about 15 yards the other side of midfield and under a minute to play in the second overtime period.
As cool as the other side of the pillow, it was the youngster Reich who stepped up to take the kick and went against conventional thought shooting from nearly 45 yards out from goal. However, the shot skipped off the turf in the box and fooled Methodist keeper Taylor Ross who backed up but could not reach the long distance effort as it glanced off her fingers and into the upper 90 on the right side of the goal.
Reich's wonder-strike from distance sent the Green and Gold careening onto the field to carry away the USA South Tournament trophy and the league's automatic berth into the NCAA National Tournament.
The NCAA trip will be Piedmont's 3rd in five seasons after the Lady Lions had never been before 2011's GSAC title. The team will await word on its postseason destination to come out Monday from the NCAA
