FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Visiting Piedmont College rallied and pulled off a valiant comeback against Methodist in USA South Athletic Conference women's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon, winning 12-11 at sun-drenched Monarch Stadium.

It was a game of runs as the Monarchs opened the afternoon with four straight goals, then later kicked off the second half on a 5-0 run to take a 10-6 advantage over Piedmont. But the Lions countered with a late 6-1 run in the first half, and six consecutive goals late in the second half to steal the victory.

Sarah Ewin (four goals) and Sydney Bonner (three goals and an assist) paced the Monarchs with four points apiece while Mary Ellen Kelliher finished with seven saves in net.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Piedmont def. Methodist, 12-11
Records: Methodist 1-6 (0-4 USA South), Piedmont 6-5 (5-1)
Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Piedmont tied the game at 10-all with nine minutes to play and took the lead with an Emma Fransen goal with 3:49 left. Another Fransen goal gave the Lions the cushion to withstand a late goal by Ewin.
• The tough loss comes despite the Monarchs besting the Lions in shots (38 to 28, including a 22-13 differential in the first half), draw control wins (13 to 10), ground balls (27 to 20), and Methodist committed only 20 turnovers compared to 27 for Piedmont.
• Free position shots made all the difference in this game as the Lions went six-of-11 (three of the last six Piedmont goals were free position shots) and the Monarchs were unable to convert any of their six shots into a score.
• Trailing 6-5, Ewin scored three goals and Bonner scored twice en route to the five consecutive goals to open the final frame.
• Down 10-6 with less than 12 minutes remaining, the Lions went on a tear scoring the first three of the six unanswered goals in under ninety seconds.
• Piedmont ended the first half on a 6-1 run over 11 minutes, including two scores in the last 36 seconds.

STAT FACTS

• Kaelyn Holland scored two of the first four goals, including the opening score. She finished with three goals, as well as a team-high five draw control wins.
• Monti Hendrix continued her stat-stuffing ways with team-highs of five ground balls and three caused turnovers, as well as two assists and three draw control wins.
• Ally Nagel and Sam Short made their presence felt on defense. Nagel recovered five ground balls and caused two turnovers and Short had two ground balls with two caused turnovers.
• Piedmont's goalkeeper Mattie Keaton had herself a field day with 17 saves, the biggest reason the Lions were to able to escape with the win. Fransen is just as important though with five goals and an assist. She went a perfect four-for-four on free position shots.

UP NEXT

• Sunday, the Monarchs look for their first conference win when they welcome Huntingdon to Monarch Stadium at 1 p.m.
• Piedmont is home Saturday to take on Averett University in a conference matchup at 11 a.m.