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MORROW, Ga. – Taking on one of the top teams in the nation, Clayton State (8-5, 4-3 PBC) battled back from a tying goal in the 89th minute as an overtime goal by senior midfielder Rachael Schmidt (Snellville, Ga.) sunk No. 3 North Georgia (9-1-1, 4-1-1 PBC) and ended their undefeated season with a 2-1 decision in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Wednesday, October 14.

After a scoreless 38 minutes to begin things, two of the Lakers top players got them on the board in the 39th minute. Junior defender Siobhan Wilson (Essex, England), who leads the club in assists and is third in the Peach Belt, rifled a through ball up the middle, finding senior midfielder Maria Marti Bartis (Girona, Spain).

Already with nine goals on the year, the All-American from a year ago made it 10 as she slipped a defender to the right and found the back of the net for 1-0 lead at the 38:13 mark. That goal now places her third in the Southeast Region in total scores.

That lead would hold up for more than 50 minutes until UNG capitalized on a corner kick at the 88:32 mark. Off the serve from Mollie Arrendale, Jacy Ramey headed in her ninth goal, and the tying score, from the right side with just 1:23 to play.

Heading to overtime the Lakers had one of two choices – either fold after having watched their epic victory be snatched away from them in the final seconds or go and get the win the hard way. They chose the latter and followed through.

In the extra session, North Georgia would notch a shot just under four minutes and follow with a corner at 96:24 to keep the pressure up. Clayton State's defense, however, did not bend and that set the stage for Schmidt's heroics.

With the ball in the offensive end, Marti Bartis delivered a pass from the right side endline directly in front of the goal. That pass landed on the foot of Schmidt, who popped it over the head of the keeper for the game-winning score to lock down a 2-1 victory over the No. 3 team in the nation.

Ramey produced the Nighthawks' only goal of the night off an assist from Arrendale to account for the offense while Mallory Sayre played all 99:34 in goal. She made six saves but allowed both scores to suffer her first loss of the season and drop to 9-1-1.

For Clayton State, Marti Bartis led the way with a goal and an assist but it was Schmidt's game-winner that stole the show. Joining them on the offensive end was Wilson with her sixth assist of the season. In goal, senior goalkeeper Charlotte McCormack (Wexford, Ireland) was spot on, making seven saves in 99:34. She allowed just the one goal and held off UNG's attempts in OT to lock down a tremendous victory and move to 8-5 on the year.

"A great effort from the girls tonight against a top team," said head coach Gareth O'Sullivan. "We have been inconsistent this season but I believe in this team and hopefully we can keep up the results going forward."

The Lakers schedule doesn't get much easier as they continue the toughest stretch of the season. On Saturday, October 14, they host No. 17 and rival Columbus State, with game time set for 7 p.m. at Laker Field.