MORROW, Ga. – It may have been a fiery halftime speech by Lakers' head coach Pete Petersen, or the fact that the first half heat faded as the sun was setting on Laker Field Friday night. Whatever the case, the Clayton State Lakers erased a 1-0 first half deficit by erupting with three goals within the first eight minutes of the second half en route to a 3-1 victory over King University in the nightcap of the Loch Shop Shootout.
Lakers newcomer Avery Shepard and veteran Arturo Cruz provided the offensive punch during the scoring barrage to swiftly change the momentum for Clayton State that King held in the first half. Shepard, a junior transfer from Southern Poly, scored the tying and insurance goals while Cruz, a senior coming back from a season-ending injury a year ago, scored the go-ahead score.
The Lakers opened their 11th season under Petersen rather lethargic in the first half as the oppressive heat wore on both teams. Luis Calderon put the Tornados of King up 1-0 on a score past Clayton State keeper Nick Punter from an assist by teammate Kendale Liburd near the 21:00 mark of the half. The Tornados would finish the period with a 6-5 first half shot advantage.
The Lakers opened the second half up-tempo with Shepard taking a pass from Bilal Nakhil less than two and a half minutes into the start of the second half to tie the match. Then, roughly five minutes later, Nakhil assisted Cruz on the go-ahead goal while Shepard ended the scoring frenzy less than 30 seconds later to give the Lakers a two-goal cushion.
In the earlier Loch Shop Shootout pairing on Friday, Erskine shutout USC Aiken 2-0 and will face Clayton State in the second pairing on Saturday. This year's Shootout features two teams from Conference Carolinas (Erskine and King) and the Peach Belt Conference (USC Aiken and Clayton State).
Saturday's 4 p.m. match-up finds King going up against USC Aiken while Erskine faces the host Lakers at a scheduled 6 p.m. kick.
