LAGRANGE, Ga. – The fourth-seeded LaGrange College men's soccer team lost 2-1 in overtime against visiting fifth-seeded Piedmont University in the quarterfinals of the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) playoffs on Wednesday evening at Panther Field in LaGrange, Georgia.
THE BASICS
Score: #5 Piedmont 2, #4 LaGrange 1 (OT)
Records: Panthers 5-4-8, 1-1-4 CCS | Lions 7-8-1, 2-3-1 CCS
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A hotly contested and intensely physical first half tested both teams but ultimately saw no goals as the teams went into halftime still knotted at 0-0. As the sun set over Panther Field, the Lions continued to take shot after shot, but each time were met with a save by LaGrange sophomore goalkeeper Sawyer Williams (Johns Creek, Ga.), who put on a heroic performance. With 24:36 remaining, a red card against the Panthers gave the visitors a man-up advantage for the remainder of regulation. Less than a minute later, Piedmont junior Davis Knight (LaGrange, Ga.) capitalized, finding the back of the net with an assist to sophomore forward Juliann Pimentel (Gainesville, Ga.). A shot by LaGrange senior forward Lucas Duke (Dexter, Ga.) with 10:02 left in the game was just barely stopped by the Piedmont keeper, keeping the hosts in the hole.
- In the 85th minute, with time winding out in their season, LaGrange subbed back in freshman midfielder Jacob Sagstuen (Dacula, Ga.). Two and a half minutes later with the game on the line, Duke found Sagstuen for the rookie's fourth goal of the season, tying it up at 1-1 and sending the game into overtime.
- Still playing a man down in overtime, the Panthers played on. 4:35 into the first overtime, Piedmont freshman midfielder Nico Serna (Cumming, Ga.) took a corner kick and found sophomore defenseman Lyric Bratton (Conyers, Ga.) in front of the LaGrange net for the game-winner. Just like that, the Panthers' season was over.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Williams tallied eleven saves on the night in a brilliant effort for the Panthers.
- Piedmont senior goalkeeper Bobby Wood (Lowndes, Ga.) finished with four stops for the Lions.
- Overall shots were 17-6 in favor of Piedmont.
UP NEXT
- LaGrange, picked to finish sixth in the CCS preseason poll, finishes in fourth play before exiting in the conference quarterfinals. Congratulations to the entire team on a great season.
For continuing coverage of LaGrange College Athletics, visit lagrangepanthers.com and follow the Panthers on Instagram ( @lagrange_panthers ), Twitter ( @lcpanthers ) and Facebook ( LaGrange Panthers ).
