DEMOREST, Ga.  Methodist's 2018 women's soccer season came to a close Saturday, as the Monarchs fell to host Piedmont College, 2-0, in the quarterfinal round of the USA South postseason tournament.

Methodist tested Lions goalkeeper Miranda McNalley with three dangerous scoring opportunities, but the netminder held the Monarchs at bay until her own team scored what would become the game-winning goal late in the first half.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Piedmont def. Methodist, 2-0
Records: Methodist 8-7-1, Piedmont 14-4-1
Game note: USA South Athletic Conference quarterfinal
Location: Walker Athletic Complex; Demorest, Ga.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Piedmont opened with strong pressure over the initial 10 minutes of action, earning a pair of corner kick chances and registering the first five shots of the game -- including the final two that were on frame but stopped by Methodist goalkeeper Maggie Hunt.
• Finally, after that second Hunt save, the Monarchs began to generate their own attacking pressure, putting a shot on McNalley early in the 12th minute and late in the 18th.
• Methodist's best scoring chance might have been in the 38th minute when Anna Rose Sink put one just wide of the post, and a turnover put the ball right back in the Monarch's possession seconds later when an Angelica Santos header needed to be corralled by McNally.
• The Lions escaped danger with that header save, and soon after notched the game-winning goal on a ball that had been bouncing around in the box after a set piece from the corner. Allie Kuzel final gained possession and pushed a shot past Hunt into the left side.
• A pair of Methodist shots between that goal and the end of the half were off target, sending the Monarchs into potentially their last halftime of the season trailing by a goal.
• Haley Bowles tried heroically to find the equalizer, accumulating Methodist's first three shots of the second half, but none changed the scoreboard. Capri Clark was next in line in the search for a tying goal, but her header in the 73rd skirted over the crossbar.
• As with the game's initial goal, Piedmont was able to turn a Methodist scoring possession into one of its own. Cassity Reich popped one off the post, and Anslyn Stamps was there for the rebound for an easy tap-in that pushed Piedmont's advantage to two -- with now only 13 minutes left in the game, and potentially, Methodist's season.
• The Monarchs were unable to answer that second, deflating goal over those final minutes, and finally had to accept the results with the final horn.

GAME NOTES

• Methodist had played its way into the quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory over N.C. Wesleyan on Wednesday, while Piedmont had earned a first-round bye.
• The Lions earned their 13th shutout victory of the season, and 14th shutout, with Saturday's results.
• The Monarchs were only out shot by just two kicks, and they put three of their 11 shots on frame. Piedmont's two goals came from the two-shot margin on frame that they owned over the visitors.
• The contest was the final collegiate appearances for six Methodist players: Capri Clark, Miranda Cowardin, Catie Gaughan, Danielle Gaughan, Sierra Garcia and Angelica Santos.
• Piedmont moves on to the USA South tournament semifinal round, where it will play the top seed from the East Division, Greensboro College, on Friday afternoon.