Redshirt-senior midfielder Ryan King (County Durham, England) fueled a resurgent year all season long and the capstone performance of that effort came in his five games in the Month of November. In that time he played 404 minutes, recording five goals for 10 points and helped the Lakers knock of No. 7 Francis Marion (11/2) and post an overtime victory over Flagler (11/12) in a PBC Quarterfinal.
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That stretch would begin at FMU as he spearheaded a Clayton State victory by scoring all three goals, including the game-winner from 25 yards out on a free kick. Add in a pair of goals scored the previous week against North Greenville (10/29) and he became the first player in program history to be named United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week (11/5).
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He would add another score in a 3-1 win over USC Aiken (11/9) to close the regular season before scoring the go-ahead goal against Flagler. That would help Clayton State to a 2-1 overtime victory that put them in the PBC semifinals for the third straight season.
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Those types of performances would help him become one of the most decorated men’s soccer players in more than a decade over the following month as he was named PBC Player of the Year, All-PBC First-Team, a D2CCA and USC First-Team All-Region choice and a two-time All-American.
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He became the first First-Team honoree by the D2CCA in program history and added USC Second-Team honors on the same day to close out a career that saw him register 29 goals, five assists and 63 points in 34 games.
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