DEMOREST, GA- The Millsaps Majors dropped a hard-fought nail biter on Saturday, falling 12-10 to the Piedmont Lions at the Walker Athletic Complex.
It would be the Majors who struck first in the opener for both teams, as Kobie Baus took a feed from Ryan McKay to score at the 5:35 mark of the first quarter. The man up goal gave the Majors the 1-0 lead as they cashed in on an unnecessary roughness penalty. The lead lasted mere moments, as the Lions tied the game right off the face off. The teams were knotted at one after the first quarter.
The scoring opened up a bit in the second quarter, the teams combined for three goals in the opening three minutes. A pair of Lion goals were split up by Scott Budd setting up Simon Sherman for his first of the season. Piedmont would take a 4-2 lead midway through the half, only to see the Majors answer back with two of their own. Sherman picked up his second of the quarter and assisted on Hunter Stevison's first of the year. The Lions would take a 5-4 lead into the half after tallying a goal just 14 seconds before the half.
Jack Houtz didn't let the Lions' lead last, scoring just 90 seconds into the second half. Defense would take over for the majority of the third quarter before a flurry of three goals in the last three minutes. Houtz' second of the quarter split a pair of Lion goals during the flurry as Piedmont took a 7-6 lead into the fourth.
Off the fourth quarter face-off, Stevison took a Houtz win in the circle and buried the equalizer just five seconds into the quarter. Less than a minute later, Piedmont would retake the lead only to see Houtz' third of the game knot the contest at eight with 10 minutes to go. Piedmont would go on a three-goal binge that proved to be the difference. The Lions grabbed an 11-8 lead in a span of four minutes. Scott Budd would set up Stevison with his third of the game and netted his second to pull the Majors within striking distance. A late Majors' push would be for naught as the Lions won the opener for both teams.
The Majors will open up their home season next Saturday as they welcome in Fontbonne out of St. Louis for a non-conference contest. Face-off from Haper Davis Field is set for 1pm.
A few notes from the game:
Chris Hood made 19 saves in the loss...Piedmont outshot Millsaps 54-44 including 31-24 on goal...The Lions won 15 of 26 face-offs and led on ground balls 33-23...Each team had 24 turnovers.
