MORROW, Ga. – Trailing for the better part of the game, Clayton State (2-0, 0-0 PBC) battled back against a strong Anderson (1-1, 0-0 SAC) team and took advantage of an overtime goal by graduate forward Iain Smith (Suwanee, Ga.) to earn a hard fought 2-1 victory in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Saturday, September 5.

Neither team could find their offense for much of the first half as the teams were scoreless entering the 39th minute. At that point, Nicholas Bang delivered a corner to the foot of Remi Lesterlou, who proceeded to bury it in the back of the goal for a 1-0 lead at the 39:55 mark.

With 29 seconds left in the frame, Mother Nature shut things down with lightning strikes in the area. After a delay of about an hour, play resumed with the conclusion of the first half and the immediate switch to the second half.

In that frame, it would take the Lakers better than 30 minutes to find their offense, but when they did it was impressive. In the 77th minute, senior midfielder Avery Shepard (Kennesaw, Ga.) moved down the right side of the field and sent a perfect cross that was headed in by junior forward Sekou Thornell (Atlanta, Ga.) to tie the game at 1-1 at 76:30.

From there, both teams were locked back in on defense and sent the game to overtime. While it took a while to reach the extra frame, it wouldn't take long for the Lakers to end it. Just 1:39 into the period, Clemson transfer Iain Smith raced down the right sideline and sliced a ball in front of the keeper. That shot would find its way to the back of the net for the golden goal and Smith's second straight game-winner, this time a 2-1 overtime decision over Anderson.

Lesterlou would notch the only goal for the Trojans while Bang had the only other points with his assist. Devon Ashy played all 91:39 and allowed both goals while making nine saves to fall to 1-1 on the year.

Smith and Thornell provided both the late game heroics and the majority of the offense with their scores while Shephard added an assist. Junior goalkeeper Oliver Pannell (Nottingham, England) posted his second straight strong outing, giving up just the one goal in 91:39 of action. He made three saves to pick up the win and move to 2-0.

The Lakers continue their season-opening homestand when they face Eckerd (1-0, 0-0 SSC) on Thursday, September 10. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Laker Field.

NOTES
With 29 seconds remaining in the first half the teams were pulled off of the field due to lightning strikes in the area … play resumed following approximately an hour delay … coming out of that delay, the teams finished the first half and then immediately began the second half … Smith has now delivered game-winning goals in his first two games as a Laker, adding onto his back-to-back scores from the season-opening win over Erskine … the game concluded the 2015 Loch Shop Shootout.