Lizzy Hightower scored two goals to lead the Covenant women's soccer team past Piedmont 2-1 in a USA South showdown on Friday evening at Scotland Yard.
Covenant has won three straight matches and improves to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play with the victory. Piedmont falls to 1-3 on the year and 0-1 in the USA South.
The goals for Hightower were her first two career scores and came at critical times for the Lady Scots on Friday. The freshman gave Covenant a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute when she took a shot from nearly 30 yards out and directed it into the lower left corner of the net past Piedmont keeper Ashlyn Atnip.
Savanna Cingilli assisted on the goal.
Late in the second half, it was Hightower again coming through. The freshman received a cross from the left side of the box from Anna Porch and headed it in from a few yards out giving Covenant a 2-1 lead in the 85th minute.
Piedmont had tied the match in the 69th minute when Abbey Dunlop's corner kick curved towards the net and was bobbled into the goal by Covenant keeper Rachel Lemay. The goal was Dunlop's first of the year.
In a tightly-played contest, Piedmont held an 11-10 shot advantage. The Lady Scots defensive back line of Andrea Hunt Roylston, Kaitlyn Winking and Natalie Smith did not allow reigning USA South Player of the Year Cassidy Reich to get on track. Reich took seven shots, four on target, but was unable to get an open look at the net all night. Hightower led Covenant with four shots.
Lemay (3-1) picks up the win after making five saves, while Atnip and Cierra Belinkie (0-1) combined for four saves.
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Covenant will host USA South foe Salem on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Scotland Yard. The USA South will present former Lady Scot Ruth Terry Vilches with the 2016 Woman of the Year Award during halftime of the contest.