EVANS, Ga. – A pair of first half goals, including a penalty shot, would be too much to overcome as Clayton State (9-8-1, 4-5-0 PBC) fell 3-0 to No. 2 Young Harris (16-0-1, 9-0-0 PBC) in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game and Peach Belt semifinal on Friday, November 7.
Neither team could find the back of the net over the first 16 minutes of play but that would change as two-time reigning PBC Player of the Year Ilija Ilic took a pass from Paco Craig and Lewis Hilton to make it 1-0 YHC at 16:23.
Following the goal, the Lakers would return to their defensive ways for the next 16-plus minutes before a foul in the box would give the Mountain Lions a penalty shot at 33:08. Much as he did earlier in the half, Ilic delivered his 23rd goal of the year by firing to the left side of the keeper to extend to a 2-0 advantage.
The teams would then take that margin to the break and maintain it for almost the entire second half. While Clayton State would apply pressure during the final 45 minutes, they could not capitalize on those opportunities.
YHC's Ilic, however, made one last run in the final minute to add his third goal of the game at 89:19, converting a pass from Andre Hoglund for the final margin.
Largely contained offensively throughout the game, the Lakers managed just two shots and only one on goal, that coming from sophomore forward Sekou Thornell (Atlanta, Ga.). Defensively, senior goalkeeper Nick Punter (Suffolk, England) played all 90 minutes in goal allowing all three goals and making eight. He falls to 5-8-1 on the year.
For the Mountain Lions it would be Ilic handling the bulk of the offense as he notched a hat trick off of assists from Craig and Hoglund. In goal, Jordan Bradshaw went the distance and recorded one save to post the shutout.
Clayton State, unranked in the most recent Southeast Region rankings which are used to determine the NCAA Tournament field, will now await word on whether they will earn a berth to the 2014 field.
