JACKSON, MS- Piedmont used a strong second half and knocked off the Majors 19-10 at Harper Davis Field in the season opener for both teams.
Jack Houtz and Simon Sherman each netted a hat trick for the Majors to lead the offense. Houtz added a pair of assists and won 10 face-offs for Millsaps, leading the way in both categories.
"This was a good start for us, proud of the way we came out," Coach John Hoeffler said. "Thought we played really well, especially in the first half. In the second, guys started to get tired and we got away from the game plan a bit. That can be expected in the first game, we will regroup and come back stronger against Huntingdon."
Millsaps erased a pair of early Piedmont goals in what was a back-and-forth first half. The Lions scored the game's first two goals and three of the first four. But Houtz was able to take advantage of a Piedmont penalty and scored with the man advantage and senior Jake Kaplenetted one with a minute left in the first to tie the score at 3-3.
The Lions would score four times in a four-minute span to lead 8-4 early in the second. Elijah Ramsey IV snuck one between the goalie's legs and Houtz and Sherman each scored in the final 30 seconds of the half. The late Major rally made it 9-7 Lions at the break.
Sherman would score again just 25 seconds into the third, giving him two goals in 40 seconds of game time to make it 9-8. Sherman again would answer a Piedmont tally with one of his own to make it 10-9, but the Majors could get no closer.
The Lions would score a flurry of goals, four in two minutes, to extend their lead to 14-9. It was 15-9 after three once the Lions scored with one second remaining on the third-quarter clock. Houtz would add his third goal in the fourth, the lone Major tally, as Piedmont put the game out of reach.
Each team was credited with 49 shots and sophomore Riley McLean made 24 saves for the Majors. Millsaps held a 43-32 edge in ground balls, thanks in part to winning 19 of 30 face-offs. Millsaps will look to grab their first win of the season on Wednesday night when Huntingdon comes to town. Face-off is set for 6pm.
