VALDOSTA, Ga. – Facing a team that not only advanced to the NCAA Tournament a year ago but also earned a victory, Clayton State (3-2, 0-0 PBC) could not recover from a two-goal deficit, falling 2-1 at Valdosta State (1-3, 0-0 GSC) in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Tuesday, September 15.

Neither team would find their offense over the first 35 minutes but it would be the Blazers that broke that stretch. With 35:27 gone by, Madison Cutts delivered an unassisted score to make it 1-0. That would be one of just three first half shots for Valdosta and the only one on goal.

Defense ruled the day once again as that one goal advantage held deep into the second half. However, it would be Cutts who would shatter that scoreless stretch as well, capitalizing on a pass from Logan Lindy for her second goal of the game, this one at the 79:22 mark.

That 2-0 margin would be cut in half almost immediately as junior defender Siobhan Wilson (Essex, England) found senior midfielder Maria Marti Bartis (Girona, Spain) for her fourth goal of the season just over a minute later. That 2-1 margin, though, would become the final as Wilson was the only Laker to register a shot, wide, over the final nine-plus minutes.

Cutts' two goals were her first of the season and led the Blazers while Lindy notched an assist for the only other offense. McCall Gardner played all 90 minutes in goal, making six saves and allowing just the one goal in improving to 1-3 on the year.

Marti Bartis and Wilson provided the only offense for Clayton State with a goal and assist, respectively, while senior keeper Charlotte McCormack (Wexford, Ireland) made three saves in 90 minutes. She drops to 3-2 on the season.

The Lakers are back in action on Saturday, September 19 when they open Peach Belt Conference play at Flagler (2-0-1, 0-0-0 PBC). Game time is set for 5 p.m. in St. Augustine, Fla.