Panthers fall 4-1 to Piedmont in final home game

Oct. 24, 2006

The LaGrange College men's soccer team fell 4-1 to Piedmont on Tuesday at Panther Field.  The loss drops the Panthers to 1-13 overall and 0-6 in GSAC play for the regular season.  The Lions are 9-7 overall, 4-2 in the GSAC.

The Panthers were out shot 30-9 in a rough, physical game filled with fouls.  LaGrange picked up 25 fouls while Piedmont had 16 for a total of 41 on the cold night.  The Panther defense played well despite Piedmont having a decided shot advantage.  The Panthers did not allow Piedmont an opportunity to score on nine of the Lions' 10 corner kicks attempted in the game. 

The first half was a physical match with both teams going full speed and not allowing sharp advances.  It remained scoreless through 35 minutes. The Lions' Josh Seabrook hit a shot into the back of the net to make the score 1-0 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. 

In the second half, in which four of the six yellow cards were distributed out, the Panthers remained in the game. The Lions scored in the 57th minute of play off a corner kick from Chad Davis that sailed over goalkeeper Jason Baker's head and into the net to take a 2-0 lead. 

The Panthers kept their poise and were rewarded in the 63rd minute. Vince Akar scored off a header with a sharp pass from the far corner by Keven Kellar. The shot went into the top corner of the net. It was Akar's first goal of the season, cutting the Lions' lead in half, 2-1.

Piedmont answered the Panthers' goal. Seabrook scored unassisted for his second goal of the game, giving Piedmont an insurance goal and a 3-1 lead.

The final goal of the match came with only two minutes remaining. Drew Griffin, who shot almost half the Lions' total shots (14), scored off a deflection of a shot. The ball went past the defender and into the left side of the net to close the scoring.

Baker, who made unbelievable stops throughout the match, finished with 13 saves for the Panthers.

The Panthers face regular season champion Maryville in the semifinals of the GSAC Championship Tournament on Nov. 3. The tournament is hosted by Maryville. The Panthers have lost twice to the Scots this season and have never won in 13 meetings.

GSAC Championship Tournament bracket