FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Methodist men's lacrosse dropped their USA South Athletic Conference opener 10-7 against the visiting Lions of Piedmont University at Monarch Stadium on Saturday. THE ESSENTIALS Final score: Piedmont def. Methodist, 10-7 Records: Methodist 5-4 (0-1 USA South); Piedmont 3-5 (1-0) Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, N.C. HOW IT HAPPENED. Hunter Vaughan opened the game early with the Monarchs first goal after Carter Favreau found him for a quick snap to the back of the net. The Lions then scored three unanswered goals which was followed by a Cy Horner goal with an assist by Nate Moore to end the first quarter at 3-2. Before the half, Piedmont added two goals to end the half with 5-2 lead. The Lions then extended their lead by two more goals early in the third quarter to make it 7-2. The Monarchs answered with a goal from Matt Pemberton which was assisted by Jesse Leyble, followed by two goals from Vaughan, both assisted by Pemberton. Piedmont eventually scored another goal making their lead 8-5 as the third quarter came to a close. During the fourth quarter the Lions and Monarchs went back and forth scoring two goals per side. Pemberton scored both fourth quarter goals for Methodist. MORE NUMBERS. Pemberton and Vaughan both grabbed their 100th career point on the Monarchs fifth goal of the game. They are now the seventh and eighth Monarch to achieve this feat. They both also led the team in goals with three. Marco Romero, J.R. Newman and Patrick Rowell shared a team high four ground balls. Matthew Liquori finished the game with 16 saves. Methodist out shot Piedmont, 47-39, but the Monarchs were unable to convert those shots to goals. UP NEXT Methodist will travel to Greensboro, N.C. to play Greensboro College in a USA South conference game on Friday, March 30 at 4 p.m.