SAVANNAH, Ga. – After completing a challenging regular season, Clayton State (12-7, 6-5 PBC) used a pair of first half goals to eliminate No. 22 Armstrong State (13-4) in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game and Peach Belt Conference Quarterfinal on Tuesday, November 4. With the victory, the Lakers advance to the semifinals against either No. 2 seed North Georgia or No. 7 seed Georgia College.
"We are delighted to be returning to the PBC semifinals," said head coach Gareth O'Sullivan. "We scored a pair of great goals today and worked extremely hard to earn the right to advance."
It didn't take long at all for Clayton State to get on the board as junior midfielder Maria Marti Bartis (Girona, Spain) converted a pass from junior defender Lucy Cunningham (Liverpool, England) at the 6:54 mark for a 1-0 lead. Bartis would then factor in a second goal nearly 19 minutes later as she teamed with Cunningham to assist on a score by junior defender Saidhbh Collins (Dublin, Ireland) with 25:44 gone by.
That margin would hold up not only to the half, but through it as the teams could not manage another goal over the next 37 minutes. That would change when ASU's Taylor Valley took advantage of a pass from Jenny Allen to close the gap to 2-1 at 62:36. From there, however, the Pirates would go without another score as the Lakers defense was equal to the task and held on for the one goal victory.
Marti Bartis led the way with a goal and assist while Collins had the other score. Cunningham rounded out the scoring with a pair of assists and junior goalkeeper Charlotte McCormack (Wexford, England) went the distance, playing all 90 minutes while allowing one goal and making three saves.
Valley with the goal and Allen with the assist accounted for the only points by Armstrong while the entire team managed just four shots on goal. Morgan Luckie played all 90 minutes in goal, surrendering both goals and making three saves.
The Lakers now advance to the Peach Belt Tournament Semifinals on Friday, November 7. They will take on the winner of No. 2 seed North Georgia and No. 7 seed Georgia College at 8 p.m.
