MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State (7-4-1, 4-3-1 PBC) battled neck-and-neck with Armstrong State (9-1-1, 6-0-1 PBC) but an early goal and strong defense would be enough for the Pirates to hold on 1-0 in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Saturday, October 15.
 
In what would be a tightly contested first half, ASU would notch the lone score as Amanda Green took the ball down the middle of the field before cutting to the left of the goal. From there she chipped the ball to the back right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead at 3:58.
 
Following that very early score the teams would combine for 14 more shots (eight for ASU, six for Clayton) without any connecting. The Pirates Lauren Yoss would come the closest with about 11 minutes left as she banged back-to-back shots right in front of the goal at 33:56 and 34:02.
 
Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Jessica Charman (Harefield, England) would be outstanding as she went from one side of the goal to the other to stonewall both attempts. From there the clubs would head into the half with a one goal margin.
 
The second half would see more of the same as neither team would find the back of the net despite both teams registering five shots. Senior forward Denisha Paskell (McDonough, Ga.) would come the closest for the Lakers with 6:34 to play when she drilled a shot from straight away that was blocked. From there, ASU held on for the narrow 1-0 victory.
 
Graduate midfielder Maria Marti Bartis (Girona, Spain) finished with four shots, three on goal, to lead Clayton State while senior midfielder Claudia Granja (Barcelona, Spain) added three attempts with one on net. In goal, Charman went the distance and surrendered just the one early goal against four saves, two of the latter of the extremely impressive variety. She falls to 7-3-1 on the year.
 
Amanda Green accounted for the only score of the game as she went coast-to-coast early on to pace the Pirates. Yoss added three shots, two on goal, as the only other significant signs of offense. Erica Laurens played all 90 minutes, making eight saves and earning the shutout to move to 8-0-1.
 
The Lakers hit the road on Tuesday, October 18 when they travel to Young Harris. Originally scheduled for a day later, the game was moved up to accommodate YHC rescheduling games as a result of Hurricane Matthew. Game time will still be at 5 p.m. in advance of the men's game against the Mountain Lions.