LAGRANGE, Ga. -- The Methodist women's lacrosse team fell in the semifinals of the USA South Conference tournament, 15-12, to Piedmont on Friday afternoon at Callaway Stadium.
 
Monti Hendrix and Renee Burt scored three goals apiece for MU (8-7), but Piedmont (10-7) pulled away with three straight goals late in the second half that turned an 11-11 game into a 14-11 lead with 7:41 left to play.
 
Burt scored her final goal of the game with 6:47 remaining to make it 14-12, but Blake Forrest made a key save on a free position shot and the Lions were able to add an insurance goal with 1:17 on the clock for the final score of the day.
 
Piedmont raced out to a 5-2 lead by the 17:35 mark of the first half before MU used a 5-2 run over its own to knot the score at 7-7 when Burt fed Bianca Terenzi with 4:45 left in the first half. Burt then gave MU an 8-7 lead with 1:38 left in the first half.
 
The Monarchs' lead stood until the 25:12 mark of the second half when Caitlin O'Brien scored for the Lions to make it 8-8. Piedmont took a 9-8 lead just 18 seconds later, and the two teams played back and forth until Piedmont's late run.
 
Shots were even at 21 apiece, and Piedmont committed 23 turnovers to 22 for MU. The Monarchs won 17 draw controls to 12 for PC, and also picked up 18 ground balls to PC's 16.
 
Forrest earned the win in the cage, coming up with seven saves in the contest. Jannelle Gant played the first 52:19 in the cage for Methodist and made two saves with 14 goals allowed. Molly O'Hara played the final 7:41 and came up with two saves with one goal allowed.
 
Burt finished with three goals and an assist to lead MU's offense. In addition to her three goals, Hendrix added a pair of draw controls. Madison Ronelli had three caused turnovers, eight draw controls, two ground balls and scored once. Sareena Coleman chipped in a pair of caused turnovers, three draw controls and a goal.
 
Cassidy Heflin led the Lions with four goals and four assists while adding four draw controls and three ground balls. Jenna Smith scored three times with a pair of assists.
 
Methodist will host Hollins on April 22, beginning at 2:00 pm.