DEMOREST, Ga. -- Piedmont scored six straight goals to open the third quarter and defeated the Methodist men's lacrosse team, 13-7, on Saturday evening at the Walker Athletic Complex.
 
Staked to a 5-3 lead at halftime, the Lions (4-8) opened the game up with their fast start to the third period. Taylor Carter scored off a feed from Sumner Gantz just nine seconds into the quarter to give PC a 6-3 lead, and David Salvatelli made it 7-3 at 13:01 with an unassisted tally.
 
Carter struck again, this time following a pass from Nick Green, at 11:41 to make it 8-3, and three more goals, including a pair from Green, put the score at 11-3 in favor of the hosts with 3:07 left in the period.
 
Jake Smerka stopped Piedmont's run, scoring off a feed from Justin Layden a minute later, but Steve Blanchard added an unassisted goal with under a minute left in the period for a 12-4 score entering the fourth.
 
After Piedmont kicked off the scoring in the fourth, Aaron Ward, Daniel Richards and Andrew Ruskey each found the back of the cage for MU to conclude the scoring.
 
The Monarchs actually took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter as Matt Layden and Mack Cox scored before the 11:30 mark, but Green got Piedmont on the board in the quarter's waning seconds to make it 2-1 entering the second.
 
Piedmont opened the second with three straight markers to make it 4-2 before Smerka scored for the Green and Gold and trim the Monarchs' deficit to one (4-3) with a man-up goal at the 2:16 mark. Salvatelli scored at the 1:00 mark for a halftime score of 5-3.
 
Mick Baker came up big for the Lions in goal, making 22 saves on the night as MU out shot Piedmont, 44-35.Liam Von Hoene made nine saves in the cage for the Monarchs. Methodist also held a slim lead in ground balls, 31-28, and committed nine fewer turnovers (30-21). Piedmont did take advantage of 12 MU penalties, scoring five goals with a man advantage.
 
Smerka finished with two goas, Ruskey had a goal and an assist, and Trevor Dickinson had two helpers. Jacob Fitch had a team-best five ground balls, and Matt Layden caused two turnovers.
 
Green finished five goals and one assist for Piedmont, Carter and Salvatelli each had a hat trick, and Steve Blanchard totaled two goals and two assists. Gantz won 12-of-22 faceoffs and had seven ground balls.
 
The Monarchs play at Guilford on Wednesday beginning at 7:00 pm.