FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- A fast start for the Methodist men's lacrosse team did not hold up as Piedmont rallied for a 9-7 win in the Monarchs' home opener on Saturday afternoon at Monarch Stadium.
 
Matt Layden scored three first-quarter goals, part of a four-goal period for the Monarchs, as MU held a 4-1 lead after 15 minutes of play. Layden scored his first goal, an unassisted effort, at the 12:34 mark to open the scoring. Piedmont made it 1-1 just under four minutes later when Chris Hadlow found Sean Kendall for the equalizer at 8:57.
 
Layden's second goal came at 7:44 and put MU up 2-1, before a pair of goals late in the period made it 4-1. Michael Bradley scored off a feed from Ian Mastriani with 1:01 on the clock, and a man-up goal from Layden with seven seconds on the clock pushed MU's lead to 4-1.
 
The Lions scored the only two goals of the second period, limiting MU to six shots, in cutting their deficit to 4-3 entering the break. Brady Jenks' goal just eight seconds into the second half tied the game at 4-4.
 
The Monarchs took the lead back when AJ Mejia scored at 13:12, but three straight goals from the Lions to close out the third and another to open the fourth put the visitors in front, 8-5, with 11:03 left in the game.
 
Methodist had on more push, and got back-to-back goals, including Layden's fourth, to pull within 8-7 by the 2:49 mark. The Green & Gold won the ensuing faceoff, one of just four on the day, gave possession back to MU and following a timeout, Cade Crews got his hands free but rung a shot off the crossbar that went out of bounds. MU won possession back, but Layden's shot with 1:52 to play was saved and Piedmont tacked on an insurance goal with 1:20 to play.
 
Methodist outshot Piedmont 33-29 for the game, and shots on goal were 19-18 in favor MU. The Lions picked up 35 ground balls to 27 for the Monarchs, and held a sizeable 15-4 edge in faceoffs won.
 
Clay Stevenson started in goal for MU and allowed seven goals while making eight saves. Jackson Bingham played the final 15:00 and allowed two goals with one save. Zach Czulada played all 60:00 and made 12 saves with seven goals allowed.
 
In addition to Layden's four goals, he added a pair of ground balls. Mastriani had two assists for MU. John Tartline picked up a team-best four ground balls, and Bryan Cooley Jr. had two caused turnovers and three ground balls.
 
Jenks led the Lions with three goals and an assist. Chris Hadlow added three assists, and Sean Kendall scored twice. Lamont Nesbitt was 15 of 19 at the faceoff X and had six ground balls. Collin Wenger caused three turnovers and added four ground balls.
 
Methodist will play host to Guilford on Wednesday at 3:30 pm.