CENTRAL — Although the Southern Wesleyan men’s soccer team was outshot 18-12 and Piedmont had two more shots on goal, the Warriors led in the one category that mattered, outscoring the Lions 2-1 in a non-conference matchup.

The Warriors, who had scored just six goals in their last seven games, didn’t have to wait to score their first goal of the game as Luis Ramirez scored after with less than four minutes gone in the first half. Neither team could make anything happen during the next 36 minutes, but with just over five minutes to go before halftime, Piedmont’s Sidney Smith scored the equalizer and the teams went into the halftime break tied 1-1.

Southern Wesleyan (4-4-2) came out aggressively in the second half, taking the first three shots but unable to find the back of the net. Finally, with just over 32 minutes remaining in the game, Stephen Tolan took a pass from Mario Melendez and took a shot that Piedmont (4-5-1) goalkeeper Brian Gaid couldn’t stop and the Warriors were back on top 2-1. The Lions had chances to score the tying goal, but Warriors’ goalkeeper Leonardo

Berenguel stopped their last three shots on the goal, with the last coming in the final minute of the game.

Berenguel made nine saves while allowing just the one goal while Gaid allowed two goals and stopped six shots by Southern Wesleyan.

After playing their last two games against non-conference teams, Southern Wesleyan returns to action in the Southern States Athletic Conference on Saturday when they travel to Shorter College. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.