MORROW, Ga. – Facing the defending NCAA Division II South Region Champions, Clayton State (0-1, 0-0 PBC) held their own into the second half before falling 2-0 to No. 5 Palm Beach Atlantic (1-0, 0-0 SSC) in a men's soccer game on Friday, September 2.
 
Playing on a field still feeling the effects of heavy rains, neither team was able to capitalize in the first half as the Sailfish posted seven shots to the Lakers two. It would take until 20 minutes into the second half before that would change as PBA found lightning in a bottle.
 
Lucas Coutinho raced down field and fired off a shot that ricocheted off of senior goalkeeper Oliver Pannell (Nottingham, England). Charlie Dennis then collected the rebound on the right side and drove it into the top right of the net for a 1-0 lead at the 65:13 mark.
 
The Sailfish then sent in some fresh legs right after the score and reaped the benefits almost immediately. One of three subs, Juan Pablo Puelma was the recipient of a pass from Dennis in the middle of the box. At the 67:29 mark, he then found the back right corner of the net to make it 2-0 in the span of just 2:16.
 
From there, the Lakers would recover and turn away four shots and a three corner kicks but would muster just one shot themselves the rest of the way, falling by the two goal margin.
 
Dennis led the Sailfish with a goal and an assist and Puelma notched the other score to handle the offensive end of the boxscore. Defensively, Fernando Cortes produced a clean sheet, making three saves to improve to 1-0 on the season.
 
Clayton State mustered three shots on goal with junior defender Jesse Parsons (Hertfordshire, England), junior defender Karl Addie Jr. (Jonesboro, Ga.) and freshman midfielder Shams Elakabawy (Amsterdam, Holland) registering one apiece. In net, Pannell went the distance, recording five saves and allowing just two goals to one of the best teams in the country. He falls to 0-1 to start the season.
 
The Lakers conclude their season opening two game homestand when they face Barry on Saturday, September 3. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Laker Field.
 
NOTES
Palm Beach Atlantic finished 2015 as NCAA Division II South Region Champions and fell to eventual undefeated national champion Pfeiffer by a 5-4 score in the final seconds of a third round game … this year they have already earned an exhibition victory over Division I No. 21 Florida International … the Lakers are now 1-1 all-time against PBA, earning a 2-1 victory on September 10, 2011.