Freshman defender Manoly Baquerizo (Guayaquil, Ecuador) began her collegiate career in style, registering a pair of goals in as many games as Clayton State opened up 2-0.
In her very first game she played 107 minutes at West Georgia (9/1), and would have played more but was directly responsible for bringing the game to an end with her first career goal. At the 107:24 mark, she lofted a ball from the left side to give the Lakers a 2-1 double overtime victory.
Two days later against another Gulf South Conference opponent, this time Christian Brothers (9/3) on a neutral field, she would strike again. While not the game-winner as before, it would be a goal that would have just as much impact. A scoreless game at the half, Clayton State trailed 1-0 in the 60th minute, a deficit that would remain until Baquerizo tied the game at 70:16. That score would allow the Lakers to take the lead in the 83rd minute and hold on for a second straight 2-1 victory.
Additionally, the freshman played a team-high tying 197 minutes as she never left the field and recorded her two goals on just four shots. Against CBU, she needed just the one shot to find the back of the net.
