YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – In their final game of the regular season, Clayton State (8-6-1, 4-5-0 PBC) challenged 2014 NCAA Quarterfinalist Young Harris (12-3-0, 7-1-0 PBC) but could not overcome a first half penalty kick as they fell by a 2-0 score in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Wednesday, October 28.
Following more than 20 minutes of scoreless action, it would be a Laker foul in the box that would change the course of things. That play presented YHC's Lewis Hilton with a penalty kick opportunity that he would bury into the back right of the goal for a 1-0 lead at 21:39. That score would hold up into the half as both team's defense returned to their lockdown mentality the rest of the way.
That trend would continue for the first 18 minutes of the second half before Marco Micaletto and Paco Craig hooked up in the 64
th minute. Micaletto played the ball in from the right side to Craig at the far post, who promptly buried it into the back of the net for a 2-0 margin. That would be all the Mountain Lions would need as the wrapped up the two-goal victory with 26 minutes more of scoreless play.
Hilton and Craig led YHC with a goal apiece while Micaletto had the only assist of the game to highlight the offense. Defensively, Jordan Bradshaw played all 90 minutes in goal, earning the shutout behind a pair of saves.
Clayton State managed eight shots on the night and was led by senior midfielder
Avery Shepard (Kennesaw, Ga.) with three shots, including the only one on goal. In net, senior goalkeeper
Viltsu Tuumi (Pori, Finland) went the distance, allowing a pair of goals and making a season-high 10 saves in the 2-0 defeat. He falls to 6-5-1 on the year.
Having concluded the regular season, the Lakers will now wait to see where they will be seeded in the 2015 Peach Belt Conference Tournament. The Quarterfinals will take place on Tuesday, November 3 at campus sites with the semifinals and championship on November 6 and 8, respectively, in Evans, Georgia.
NOTESYoung Harris won the Peach Belt Conference in 2014 and has been ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Poll for much of the season … currently, they are receiving votes.
