LAGRANGE, Ga. -- The Methodist women's lacrosse team fell to Piedmont, 14-13, in the semifinals of the USA South Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon at Callaway Stadium.
 
The third-seeded Monarchs rallied from a 10-3 deficit in the first half to pull even at 12-12 with 10:30 to play before the second-seeded Lions scored consecutive goals for a 14-12 lead with 2:22 remaining.
 
For the game, Methodist outshot Piedmont 43-30, including 33-24 in shots on goal. Piedmont's Mattie Keaton came up with 20 saves for the Lions. Two MU goalies saw action as Molly O'Hara started and made two saves with eight goals allowed in 18:50. Jannelle Gant relieved O'Hara and kept MU in the game with eight saves and six goals allowed over the final 41:10.
 
After the Lions assumed their largest lead of the game at 10-3 with 7:08 to play, Sarah Ewin and Sydney Bonner scored for MU to make it 10-5 with 2:33 left in the first half. Piedmont made it 11-5 on Enna Fransen's goal at the 2:07 mark.
 
The Monarchs big run began with two goals in the final 17 seconds of the first half as Emily Brennen and Kaelyn Holland converted in quick succession for an 11-7 score at recess.
 
MU needed only 13 seconds in the second half to make it 11-8 as Monti Hendrix secured the opening draw and sliced through the Lions' defense for an unassisted goal at 29:47.
 
Bonner made it 11-9 at 26:32, then fed Erin Cima for a goal at 21:14 bring the Monarchs to within 11-10. At 17:17, Kaelyn Holland's marker tied contest at 11-11, giving MU new life. Rowan Bumpass put PC up 12-11 at the 14:26 mark, but MU quickly answered when Holland scored off a feed from Madison Ronelli with 10:30 to play that once again tied the game at 12-12.
 
A nearly seven-and-a-half minute dry spell for each team followed, during which time Keaton made four saves for the Lions as MU was unable to take the lead. The tie was finally broken at 3:05 on Caitlin O'Brien's unassisted goal that made it 13-12. Bumpass made it 14-12 with 2:22 to play to give the Lions some breathing room.
 
Ronelli provided the Monarchs with one last chance, scoring with 36 seconds to play for a 14-13 contest. Bumpass was able to secure the final draw control for piedmont, however, and the Lions ran out the clock to advance to Saturday's championship game.
 
Bonner and Ronelli each finished with two goals and two assists to lead the Monarchs. Ronelli also had seven draw controls, a caused turnover and a ground ball. Brennen added two goals and an assist. Monti Hendrix had a goal and two assists to go with five draw controls and three ground balls, while Sarah Ewin scored twice, won three draws, caused two turnovers and picked up two ground balls.
 
Methodist has one final game on its schedule, playing at Bridgewater on April 21 beginning at 7 pm.