MORROW, Ga. – Taking on one of their most familiar opponents, Clayton State (3-12, 1-6 PBC) delivered one of their best offensive games in posting a 5-1 victory over USC Aiken (2-12, 1-6 PBC) in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Saturday, October 22.
 
The Lakers wasted no time in getting on the board as junior midfielder Ryan King (County Durham, England) took a pass from senior forward Bilal Nakhli (Paris, France), burying into the back of the net with just 42 seconds gone by.
 
USC Aiken responded quickly as Andre Simmond launched a free kick from the right side of the box that found the head of Nathan Shanko. With 5:10 off the clock he then drove it home to knot the score at 1-1. Continuing the rapid fire approach, Clayton State came right back just over three minutes later.
 
Graduate forward Iain Smith (Suwanee, Ga.) notched a long through ball to freshman midfielder Will Summerfield (Bedford, England). With 8:17 on the clock he broke down the left sideline and pounded it home for a 2-1 Laker lead.
 
It would take a bit longer but they would extend that lead to 3-1 as Nakhli found King crashing in from the right side. From there the team captain drilled the ball into the back of the right corner at 25:59. Just 12 minutes later Summerfield would find Smith for his seventh goal of the year at 37:02. That 4-1 margin would be what the teams would take to half eight minutes later.
 
In the second half offense would be at a premium, despite a combined 16 shots (10 Clayton State, 6 USC Aiken). Deep into the half in the 76^th minute junior forward Kevin Otokore (Paris, France) penetrated from left side to the middle of the box where he drove the ball into the back right corner to extend to a 5-1 margin. Following 14 minutes of continued solid defense, the Lakers would make sure that that was the final score.
 
King led the way for Clayton State with a pair of scores while Summerfield and Smith each finished with a goal and an assist. Otokore would round out the scoring with a solo goal while Nakhli dished out a pair of assists. In net, freshman goalkeeper Leuri Fraire (Dalton, Ga.) played all 90 minutes, making seven saves against just one goal. He improves to 3-8 on the year.
 
For USC Aiken's lone offense came in the sixth minute when Shanko connected off an assist from Simmond. Defensively, Orlando Maldovan went the distance and allowed all five goals while making seven saves. He falls to 1-7.
 
The Lakers hit the road for the final time in the regular season as they travel to North Georgia on Wednesday, October 26. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Dahlonega, Georgia.
 
NOTES
With today's game, Clayton State has now faced USCA 27 times … that mark ties for the second most against any team in program history.