FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist women's lacrosse team dropped its first game of the season, 9-7, to Piedmont on Saturday afternoon at Monarch Stadium.
 
The Monarchs fell to 5-1 on the season and 0-1 in the USA South, while the Lions remained perfect at 7-0 and 3-0 in the league.
 
Methodist trailed 7-3 at the half, but scored the first four goals of the second half to tie that game at 7-7 with 12:12 left to play. Cassie Walter started the run when she scored off a feed from Maddi Ronelli at the 23:24 mark. Hope Motahari made it 7-5 with an unassisted tally five minutes later, and the Monarchs pulled within one on Zhane' Ruffin's free-position goal at the 17:59 mark.
 
Motari scored to knot the game at 7-7 at the 12:12 mark, but Piedmont rallied with a pair of goals in the game's final 10 minutes. Mckynsey Douglas scored the game-winner on a free-position shot with 9:30 to play, and Maggie McDaniel added an insurance goal at the 8:07 mark to ice it.
 
The two teams were even in shots at 15 apiece, but MU held a 17-7 edge in ground balls. Piedmont edged the Monarchs in draw controls, 11-7, and PC converted 15-of-16 clears, while the Monarchs were 14-of-20 on clears.
 
Blake Forrest was the winning goalkeeper, making two saves in 60 minutes. Emily Ewin took the loss, she made four saves on the game.
 
Ronelli led the Monarchs with three goals and an assist, and Motahari added a pair of goals. Sareena Coleman and Ewin each had three ground balls and Walter had three caused turnovers.
 
McDaniel had three goals to lead the Lions. Douglas scored twice, and Cahner Manns had a pair of assists. Alana Hall and Storm Cuthbert each had a pair of ground balls, and Manns had four draw controls.
 
The Monarchs are back in action on Sunday when they take on Washington & Jefferson at 1:00 pm.