AMERICUS, Ga. – Taking the field for the first time in a week, Clayton State (7-3-1, 4-2-1 PBC) earned a hard fought 2-1 road victory over Georgia Southwestern (3-9-0, 0-7-0 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Wednesday, October 12.
 
The Hurricanes came out strong defensively, holding the Lakers scoreless over the first 24 minutes before senior midfielder Claudia Granja (Barcelona, Spain) put an end to that. With 24:50 gone by she took a pass from graduate midfielder Maria Marti Bartis (Girona, Spain) in the box and drilled it home for her first goal of the year and a 1-0 advantage.
 
Just over 11 minutes later, it would be the familiar combination of freshman defender Manoly Baquerizo (Guayaquil, Ecuador) and Marti Bartis extending that lead. Baquerizo crossed the ball and Marti Bartis proceeded to deliver her 33^rd career goal to push it to 2-0.
 
For the freshman it was her fifth assist of the year while Marti Bartis notched her seventh score. That goal also pushed her to third all-time on the Clayton State career goals scored list, passing Natalia Valentine (2009-12). Following that offensive burst, the teams would settle back in defensively and take that margin into the half.
 
That would change quickly at the start of the second half, however, as GSW benefited from a foul in the box just four minutes in. Bri Reda lined up for the ensuing penalty kick and put it home to halve the lead at 2-1 with 49:11 gone by.
 
Marti Bartis notched a goal and an assist and Granja connected for her first goal of the year to pace Clayton State offensively while Baquerizo chipped in with the other assist. In net, redshirt-junior goalkeeper Jessica Charman (Harefield, England) improved to 7-2-1 as she made a pair of saves and allowed just the one score in 90 minutes of action. She has now gone the distance in all 10 games she has played in.
 
Reda would provide the lone bright spot on offense for the Hurricanes with her penalty kick goal. It would be one of just three shots on the day with Haley West and Avery Heid each putting one on net. Elyse Gowen played all 90 minutes in goal, making eight saves and surrendering both goals. She falls to 2-8 on the year.
 
The Lakers return home on Saturday, October 15 when they host Armstrong State in a key Peach Belt Conference game. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at Laker Field.
 
NOTES
Clayton State is now a perfect 11-0 against Georgia Southwestern dating to the first meeting in 2006.