DEMOREST, Ga. -- Despite a second-half surge, the Methodist women's lacrosse team fell 16-14 at Piedmont College on Saturday afternoon.
 
Methodist (5-5, 4-2 USA South) fell behind 12-5 early in the second half before storming back against the Lions (8-5, 7-1) and pulling within a single goal (14-13) with just over five minutes to play before ultimately running out of steam.
 
Piedmont carried an 11-5 advantage into the break and struck first in the second half before MU rattled off six consecutive goals to pull within 12-11 with 12:34 to play. Madison Ronelli, who led MU with six goals in the contest, started the run with a pair of tallies, followed by two goals from Sarah Ewin as MU crept to within 12-9.
 
Monti Hendrix added two goals of her own to get the Green & Gold to within just one at 12-11.
 
Piedmont answered with a pair of goals to get back to a three-goal lead at 14-11, but Hendrix and Ronelli kept the Monarchs in it with goals at 7:58 and 5:31, respectively, to make it 14-13 with 5:31 on the clock.
 
The Lions' Caitlin O'Brien netted a goal at 2:34 that made it 15-13, and Rowan Bumpass essentially sealed the win for Piedmont with a goal at the 1:20 mark that made it 16-13.
 
Ronelli capped the day's scoring with one final marker with six seconds to play.
 
The Monarchs outshot Piedmont 39-27, but PC's Mattie Keaton made 15 saves, while Molly O'Hara made four for the Monarchs.
 
In addition to her six goals, Ronelli added six draw controls, three caused turnovers and a ground ball. Hendrix finished with five goals and five ground balls, while Ewin chipped in five draw controls and a pair of ground balls.
 
O'Brien led the Lions with four goals, four assists, seven draw controls, four caused turnovers and five ground balls. Cassidy Heflin had four goals, two assists and four draw controls.
 
Methodist turns right around and will play Rhodes on Sunday at 11 am. The game will be played at Piedmont.