For a second time this season, the Covenant men's soccer team shutout Piedmont as the Scots upended the host Lions 3-0 in a USA South Tournament quarterfinal on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Walker Athletic Complex.
Covenant (9-11-1), the No. 3 seed from the West in the tournament, advances to the semifinal round and will take on the overall No. 1 seed North Carolina Wesleyan on Friday, Nov. 3 in Rocky Mount, N.C. Match time will be announced after all quarterfinal round matches have been completed on Sunday.
The win kept an unbeaten streak alive for the Scots against Piedmont. Covenant goes to 12-0-1 all-time against the Lions, including two victories in the USA South Tournament over the last four seasons.
Carl Simakoff scored the eventual game-winner in the 20th minute when he knocked in a corner kick from Parker Owen to give the Scots a 1-0 lead. The goal was Simakoff's sixth of the year, and his third over the last two matches. Covenant would tack on another goal later in the half. Josh Brower found Anthony Buzzeo who got his shot past Piedmont keeper Alen Maslo to make it a 2-0 score in the 33rd minute. The goal was Buzzeo's second of the year, while it was Brower's team-leading eighth assist of the season.
In the second half, Covenant kept the pressure on and scored an insurance goal in the 60th minute when Matt Morefield's free kick from 30 yards out found the back of the net for a 3-0 lead. The goal was Morefield's second of the year.
Piedmont (9-7) only put one of its eight shots on goal in the match as Covenant stifled the Lions for a second time this year. The Scots also shutout Piedmont, 2-0, on Sept. 27 on Lookout Mountain.
Covenant held a 19-8 shot advantage, and an 8-5 edge in corner kicks. Jonathan Crossman notched the shutout at the net as he made one save in 90 minutes. Maslo made four saves for the Lions.
UP NEXT
Covenant will travel to Rocky Mount, N.C., on Friday, Nov. 3 for a USA South Tournament semifinal match with North Carolina Wesleyan, the tournament's No. 1 seed. Kickoff time will be at 12 p.m. N.C. Wesleyan defeated Covenant 4-0 on Sept. 15 on Lookout Mountain.