DEMOREST, Ga. – A strong second half rally was not enough for the Mississippi University for Women men's soccer team in a 6-3 loss at Piedmont University on Sunday afternoon. The Owls fell to 0-2 on the year, while the Lions improved to 2-0.
 
Under normal circumstances, the three-goal output by The W in the final 45 minutes might have been enough. But the Owls had to overcome a sluggish first half that saw PU amass a 5-0 lead by the intermission. The host Lions out-shot MUW 17-6 in that opening segment.
 
Both teams had seven second-half shot attempts.
 
Coming out of the halftime locker room, the Owls wasted little time in getting on the board. At the 48:31 mark, Miguel Hernandez send a low cross in front of the goal to Cristian Canas. Canas sent the ball to the near post to make it 5-1.
 
After Piedmont again upped its lead to five with a tally in the 59th minute, The W's Billy Hufton IV had back-to-back goals for his first scores as an Owl. The first came in the 65th minute, with the double assist credited to Hernandez and DJ McElroy.
 
Hufton's second goal was assisted by Mo Diallo in the 82nd minute for the 6-3 final score.
 
Hufton and Canas both came off The W bench and took three shots each. Both also had two shots-on-goal. Gavin Gaudin also had a pair of shots on-frame.
 
MUW goalkeeper David McCutchen went all 90 minutes. He had six saves for the day.
 
The W will next be in action on Friday September 8 at Centenary College in Shreveport, La.