MORROW, Ga. – Taking on a longtime foe in their Peach Belt Conference opener, Clayton State (4-1, 1-0 PBC) earned a 3-0 victory over Lander (1-4, 0-1 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Saturday, September 17.
 
After more than 20 minutes of scoreless play, it would be the Lakers that broke through first as they capitalized on a free kick from the far left side. It would be junior midfielder Tovin Saleh (Linkoping Sweden) that would take that kick and loft it over the keeper into the back right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead at the 22:04 mark.
 
It wouldn't take long for Clayton State to find the net again as they did so just under seven minutes later. In nearly similar fashion, graduate midfielder Maria Marti Bartis (Girona, Spain) took a pass from junior forward Renee Gillespie (Kansas City, Kansas) and lofted it over the keeper, again to the back right corner, this time with 29:01 gone by.
 
Having taken that 2-0 lead into the break 16 minutes later, it would be the Lakers that would find the net in the second half. Marti Bartis would have a hand in that score as well as she setup senior forward Denisha Paskell (McDonough, Ga.) who just touched it past the an overextended keeper and into the net with 64:35 on the clock. Clayton State's defense would then make that lead hold up to secure the 3-0 victory.
 
Marti Bartis would lead Clayton State with a goal and an assist while Saleh and Paskell would collect solo scores. Gillespie would add an assist as the only other offense while Charman played all 90 minutes, making four saves and pitching the shutout to move her record to 4-1.
 
Held to just eight shots on the night, Kari George and Victoria Lange led the way with two shots and one shot on goal apiece for Lander. Hannah Martin and Kayla Walker each recorded the only other shots on goal. Shannon DeSantis started and played 45 minutes, surrendering the first two goals and making a pair of saves to fall to 0-2. Megan Wiley saw action in the second half, giving up one goal against three saves.
 
The Lakers return to action on Wednesday, September 21 when they travel to UNC Pembroke. With it being one of the Lakers furthest trips of the year, that game is slated for a 1 p.m. start time.
 
NOTES
Clayton State is now 11-8-3 all-time against Lander, including 8-2-2 at Laker Field … the win snaps a two game losing streak to the Bearcats.