PEMBROKE, N.C. – A second half rally would not be enough to overcome a sustained offensive attack as Clayton State (9-7-1, 6-5-1 PBC) dropped a 4-3 decision at No. 2 seed UNC Pembroke (12-3-2, 9-1-2 PBC) in a Peach Belt Conference Quarterfinal in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Wednesday, November 2.
 
Following 12-plus minutes of scoreless action, the Braves would get on the board first as Stacey Scott gathered in a pass from Kate Weisner in front of the goal. From she would go one-on-one with the keeper before finding the back of the netting for a 1-0 lead at 12:26.
 
UNCP would quickly add to that lead as they made it 2-0 less than a minute later. It would be Weisner and Scott that would combine on some quick passing to find Carly Rochelle, who would then break free and bury the ball into a wide open net at 13:15.
 
The Lakers defense would settled down over the next 14 minutes but it would be Weisner and Scott that broke through again. With 27:25 on the clock, Weisner would deliver a through ball and Scott would once again win a one-on-one matchup, making it 3-0.
 
From there, Clayton State's defense would return to form, aiding the offense's chances. They would take advantage in the final minute of the first half as they capitalized off of a corner kick. On a ball that banged around in the box, junior forward Iciar Duran (Madrid, Spain) corralled it and touched into the back right corner of the goal to cut the deficit to 3-1 right before half.
 
Any momentum that the Lakers had gained just before the break was quickly erased as UNC Pembroke came out of the gate firing. With just 1:38 gone by in the frame, Rochelle found Weisner who lofted a shot from the top of the box that went over the keepers head and in for a 4-1 advantage.
 
Recovering from the shock of that early goal, Clayton State received a boost from an unlikely source. With 55:39 gone by, junior forward Skyler Young (Conyers, Ga.) fired one off from the top of the box and watched as it went in to the top left corner to cut it to 4-2. The score was the first of her Laker career in nine games and graduate midfielder Maria Marti Bartis (Girona, Spain) picked up the assist on the play.
 
Nine minutes later they would benefit from a foul in the box that set them up with a penalty kick. Taking that would be the team's top scorer, Marti Bartis. She would proceed to drive the ball low and hard into the back right of the net for her 11^th goal to pull Clayton State to within 4-3 at the 64:45 mark.
 
Despite a tremendous offensive push that would see them fire off four shots down the stretch and keep the pressure on, that would be as close as the Lakers would get. UNCP turned away each attempt as they escaped with a narrow 4-3 victory.
 
Marti Bartis closed out her illustrious career with a goal and an assist to lead the way for the Lakers while Duran and Young would register solo scores to wrap up the offense. Redshirt-junior goalkeeper Jessica Charman (Harefield, England) played all 90 minutes, allowing four goals and making three saves. She closes out her first season as a starter with a 9-6-1 overall record and four shutouts.
 
Scott led the way for the Braves with a pair of goals and an assist while Weisner was right there with her at a goal and three assists. Rochelle rounded out the offense with a goal and an assist. Gina Ryan went the distance but allowed a season-high tying three goals while making four saves. She moves to 12-2-2 on the year.
 
Clayton State closes out the 2016 campaign with a 9-7-1 overall record and 6-5-1 mark in Peach Belt Conference play under first year head coach Fergal Forde.
 
NOTES
The appearance in the 2016 Peach Belt Conference Tournament marked the Lakers 16^th trip in the 17 years that the league has sponsored women's soccer … the meeting with UNCP was the first in the PBC Tournament … the three goals allowed by Braves keeper Gina Ryan equaled a season-high set against North Georgia (10/22) and Flagler (10/28).