Piedmont Soccer Teams Open with Wins

The Piedmont Academy soccer teams traveled to LaGrange Friday to open the new season and both returned home with victories.

The varsity boys recorded an 8-5 win against Lafayette Christian as coach Dwain Landress said he was pleased by the team’s strong showing in the season opener. Piedmont led 5-1 at halftime and started the 2012 season with a victory against a team it fell to twice last year.

“It was an important season opener,” Landress said. “Everyone wanted to get involved and score. We have several new players that we wanted to get in the mix.”

Davis Kimball scored three goals for the Cougars and also had an assist. Nick Adamczyk had two goals and two assists while Hunter Clark, Bobby Mitchell and Nick Dimsdale all scored goals. Dimsdale also had an assist while Austin Bass had two.

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“Everyone on the team played well,” Landress said.

Two of the players who impressed the coach were freshmen Owen Kimball and Chance Perry. Owen Kimball started the game at goalkeeper and was playing well until he had to leave the game after being smashed in the head.

“For being freshmen, they both played great,” Landress said. “The goals that were scored against us were not their fault.”

The Lady Cougars took a 4-0 win in a game which was shortened to 30-minute halves since the field did not have lights.

“We struggled with them last year,” Landress said. “They play a more physical style. You are always concerned going in when you only have 30 minutes per half.”

The Lady Cougars wasted little time in seizing control, however, and led 3-0 at halftime. Lanie King scored an unassisted goal while Heather Tyler had a goal on an assist from King. Tyler then added another goal on an assist from Jordan Blackmon.

In the second half, Blackmon sealed the deal with the fourth goal for Piedmont.

Carley Cain had a strong outing in goal. She was tested more in the second half but continued to stand strong, Landress said.

Jenna Vella, Lynne Marie Edwards and Beth Anne Mahaffey also contributed in the win last week.

“It was great to see us earn such a convincing win where the game was never in doubt,” Landress said.

In Monday night action, the Piedmont boys defeated Heart of Georgia, a home-schooled team. It was the home-opener for the Cougars who rolled to a 9-2 victory.

“It was a much better game for us defensively,” Landress said. “We did have a couple of lapses but overall we played much better.”

Piedmont led 6-2 at halftime on the strength of two goals from Dimsdale, and one each from Clark, Adam-czyk and Bass. Adamczyk had three assists in the first half with Bass and Malik Reid both adding one.

Adamczyk added another goal in the second half along with one each by Dimsdale and Davis Kimball.

“They had three or four really good players,” Landress said of Monday’s opponent. “It was a very physical game. We got our defense better organized in the second half.”

Later in the match, Landress was able to get several players game experience. Owen Kimball went the entire way in goal.

“Owen continues to improve as does the whole team,” the coach said.

The Piedmont girls will travel to Central Fellowship today, March 8 while both teams venture to Christian Heritage Saturday.