After a calm first period which ended with the two teams even at 2-2, the Lions outscored the Raiders 17-3 in the following three periods combined. During that same stretch, STEVE BLANCHARD netted all five of his goals on the day almost doubling his season total to bring him to 11 so far this season.
The Lions' attack took off in the second period with six different players scoring. Blanchard began the scoring only 51 seconds into the period to help Piedmont take its first lead of the day.
That Blanchard goal started a five goal unanswered streak for PC, four of which came within one minute highlighted by two goals from SPENCER ORTIS. The first of those four came from a superb individual effort by the LSM STEVE MIRAGLIA who physically forced his way past the first defender before eluding another Raider to score at the 10:42 mark of the 2nd period.
The Raiders got one back with 9:12 remaining in the 2nd quarter bringing the score to 7-3 in favor of the home team. After a three minute goal drought in the match by both teams, Blanchard netted his second of the period which would lead the Lions on a three goal streak to end the quarter sending PC to halftime up, 10-3.
The Lions controlled the contest throughout the remaining two quarters though MSOE would bookend the 2nd half with scores. Piedmont answered the Raiders' score to start the third less than six seconds later with a goal from Ortis, the first of nine straight for PC in the final two periods.
Piedmont's nine straight in the second half included three in less than a two minute stretch during the 4th quarter as TAYLOR CARTER's goal with 6:59 remaining put the score at 19-4, PC. The Raiders would score before the final buzzer, but the contest had been decided with Piedmont coming away with the 15-goal victory, the largest margin of victory for PC since a 20-3 win over Point University in March of 2014.
SPENCER ORTIS and TAYLOR CARTER were among the goal scoring action with four goals and two assists a piece while FRANK CARIELLO was at the top of the assist column again today with three to his name.
MICK BAKER gets the win in goal for the Lions who only allowed one goal a period after the two in the first. Enforcing the defense was RYAN PRICE with five caused turnovers and three ground balls. Price entered the day with three caused turnovers on the season.
Piedmont's DAVID SALVATELLI got his first career hat trick tonight bringing the freshman's goal count to six in his debut season with Head Coach Pete Manderano. BRANSON MIKELL and STEVE MIRAGLIA both netted their first goals of the 2015 season.
With the 19-5 victory, the Lions bring their overall record to 2-3 snapping a three game losing streak that began back on February 14. Two of the three defeats came to Southern Athletic Association foes as another member of the SAA comes to town on Saturday with Hendrix College visiting Walker Athletic Complex.
The opening face-off in the March 7 contest vs. Hendrix will take place at 1:00 pm ET, 12:00 pm CT.
Live coverage will be provided by the Mane Event Broadcasting Network with both live stats and a live video stream available to viewers.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/3/285908