MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Completing a season-high three game road trip, Clayton State (1-4, 0-0 PBC) used a two goal burst in the first half to down Auburn-Montgomery (2-3) by a 3-1 score in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Wednesday, September 14.
 
It didn't take the Lakers long to break through as junior forward Kevin Otokore (Paris, France) found graduate forward Iain Smith (Suwanee, Ga.) with a cross from outside the box. With just 12:40 gone by, the team captain buried the ball into the corner of the net for an early 1-0 advantage.
 
The Warhawks, however, would display some early offense of their own as they evened the score at 1-1 with 23:11 gone by. William York would notch his first goal of the season as he ripped off a shot from 28 yards out that found the top left corner of the net.
 
Smith would factor in not only giving Clayton State back the lead but extending it as well. After seeing AUM knot the score, Smith delivered a cross from the left side of the box straight to the foot of graduate forward Waynee Hyman (Warwick, N.Y.). The former 15-time track All-American for Johnson C. Smith then buried it for his first career goal and a 2-1 lead at the 35:55 mark.
 
Less than two minutes later Smith would do even more damage as banged one off the crossbar before powering it home off the carom for a 3-1 lead at 37:27. The Lakers defense would then make that lead hold up heading into the break.
 
As it turned out, that last burst of offense would be the last offense in the game as neither team would find the back of the net over the final 45 minutes. With that scoreless half, the Lakers would pick up their first win of the season, 3-1, and first ever victory over Auburn-Montgomery.
 
Smith notched a pair of goals and assist to produce five points to lead Clayton State while Hyman delivered his first career goal. Otokore also posted an assist to round out the offense. In net, freshman goalkeeper Leuri Fraire (Dalton, Ga.) got his first career start and picked up his first win with seven saves and one goal allowed. He is now 1-0 on the year.
 
York would account for all of the Warhawks offense as he posted his first goal of the season. Stephen Ingram played 45 minutes in goal, surrendering all three goals with no saves to suffer the loss while Jacob Bergengren played the entire second half, making four saves and posting a clean sheet.
 
The Lakers return home to open Peach Belt Conference play on Saturday, September 17 when they host Lander (1-3, 0-0 PBC). Game time is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. following the women's game against the Bearcats
 
NOTES
With the win, Clayton State has now tied the all-time series at 1-1 … the teams last met on September 12, 1996 with AUM posting a 3-1 victory in Morrow, Georgia.