LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Last Thursday's 3-2 loss at Maryville College may have ended an 11-game winning streak for the Scots, but Saturday's 1-0 home victory over a visiting Piedmont College continued another. The Scots, now 13-4 on the year, have won all eight of their home contests this season, while all four of their losses have come on the road. Furthermore, the team has conceded only one goal on Scotland Yard this season, while allowing fourteen away. Indeed, the Yard has been a fortress of sorts for Covenant, who will hope to complete a perfect home record for the 2010 season with a victory over Bryan College this Tuesday at 7:00pm on senior night.
But in regards to last week's action, the Scots took to the road on Thursday in hopes of defeating future Great South Athletic Conference opponent Maryville College. The similarly named Scots are perennial champions of the conference, and are well-aware of the threat that Covenant will pose in the years to come. With that in mind, the two schools decided to make this year the first-annual battle for the Highland Cup, a trophy that will be kept by the winner of each year's regular season contest. Because the schools are only an hour and a half apart and because they both share the same nickname and Scottish heritage, the two teams are hoping to ignite a new rivalry as Covenant merges into Division III.
And if Thursday's thrilling, sea-saw, encounter was any indicator of the years to come, then the rivalry may be well underway. Following kickoff, it was the Maryville Scots who opened things up after just 20 seconds of play, poking through the Covenant defense and scoring on a deflected shot that managed to elude a surprised John Eger. Covenant responded just four minutes later, though, as senior David Pifer raced through the Maryville defense and fired a left-footed rocket beneath Maryville goalkeeper Brian Walker. Ten minutes later, Pifer turned provider, as his cross found the foot of an awaiting Julian Allgeier, who made no mistake in putting his boot on the ball for a 2-1 Covenant lead after 16 minutes of play. The Maryville Scots mounted the pressure, though, and scored an equalizer on the stroke of halftime to knot things up at 2-2. Then, midway through the second half, Maryville took advantage of more sloppy Covenant defending by scoring the go-ahead goal on a back post run. The team then managed to stave off the Covenant attack for the rest of the match, and claimed the first-ever Highland Cup with a 3-2 win.
Saturday saw Covenant return home to challenge another future GSAC foe in Piedmont College. Last year, the Scots romped Piedmont with a 6-0 victory, but this season, the team lagged to an offensively-frustrating 1-0 victory. The visitors mounted little offensive pressure but managed to frustrate Covenant's own attack with a stingy defensive effort that saw leading goal-scorers David Pifer and Julian Allgeier limited to just two-shots on goal between the two of them. Sophomore midfielder Tyler Morrison stepped-up in their absence, though, slamming a goal between the legs of goalkeeper Brian Gaid after senior Brian Stair had played him through. In the end, the solo and winning goal proved to be enough, as Covenant claimed its 13th victory and 10th shutout of the season.
