Piedmont women's lacrosse gets big road win

FERRUM, VIRGINIA -- The Piedmont College women's lacrosse team took its second USA South victory in the last three days with a 12-7 win over Ferrum College earlier today in Virginia.

Holding a 2-goal lead at the break, Piedmont's defense stood up to the task holding Ferrum to seven scores, tied for the Panthers' season-low in scoring output. Ferrum (1-2, 0-1 USA South) could not match the defensive effort though as PC scored a half dozen in each period to take the five-goal road decision.

Ferrum held a 2-1 lead after ten minutes gone in the 1st half, but JENINE BRIDEAU answered with a score at the 19:27 mark to level the board at 2's with KAYLA JONES picking up an assist on the tying goal, the first of a team-high five for Jones. MCKYNSEY DOUGLAS then found the back of the net in a man-up situation to put Piedmont ahead for the first time, 3-2 with 18:46 to go before the break.

Douglas led all scorers with her five goals as she has now scored five or more in three of Piedmont's six games in 2015. The junior went on to score the next two for PC but Ferrum forced two more ties before the half was out to keep PC close.

A Douglas score with 6:02 to go and CAITLIN O'BRIEN's goal at the 2:38 mark handed Piedmont a 6-4 lead at the half. PC picked up a key performance from USA South Defensive Player of the Week BLAKE FORREST who had nine first half saves to keep Piedmont in front.

Ferrum put 13 shots on frame in the first half compared to eight for PC, but the Lady Lions clamped down defensively in the second half holding an 8-7 advantage in the same category over the final 30 minutes. The Panthers scored two in the opening minutes of the second half sandwiching a Piedmont score to make it 7-6 PC, but the Lady Lions went on a four goal run over the next nine minutes holding Ferrum scoreless to assume control of the contest.

It was Piedmont's KAYLA JONES, last year's USA South Rookie of the Year, who came up clutch when her team needed it as she either scored or assisted on four of Piedmont's last five goals in the contest, including three of the four in that dominant run.

Jones finished with five assists and one goal in the 12-7 win for Piedmont. JENINE BRIDEAU was the force defensively causing five turnovers to lead all Lady Lions in that category.

MAGGIE MCDANIEL was the draw control leader with three though the Panthers did hold McDaniel scoreless, the first time the junior midfielder has been shutout in 2015. McDaniel did assist on two Lady Lion scores however keeping alive a 23-game streak that stretches back to last season in which McDaniel has tallied at least one point in a contest.

Now 6-0 overall and 2-0 in USA South action, up next for PC is another road contest, the fourth straight for the girls from Demorest, as the Lady Lions will travel to Fayetteville, North Carolina to face Methodist University on Saturday, March 14. Game time is set for 12:00 pm.