PEMBROKE, N.C. – Faced with one of their longest trips of the season and a slick, rain soaked field, Clayton State (1-6, 0-2 PBC) battled back after surrendering a pair of late first half goals but could not complete the comeback in a 3-2 loss at UNC Pembroke (3-2, 1-0 PBC) in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Wednesday, September 21.
 
Despite the Lakers firing off eight shots to two over the first 32-plus minutes, it would be UNCP that would get on the board first. They would do so with a flurry late in the half as Jordan Walshaw connected for his fourth score off a double assist from Josh Hanratty and Branco Theis at 37:52 to make it 1-0.
 
Less than four minutes later Ruben Taks would capitalize as he drilled a shot from 30 yards out that found the back of the net. The teams would then take that 2-0 margin into the break. In the second half, the Lakers would again come out firing as they outshot UNCP 7-3 over the first 17-plus minutes.
 
On that seventh shot, Clayton State would finally drive one home as senior forward Bilal Nakhli's (Paris, France) attempt banged off of the keeper. Off of that carom, graduate forward Iain Smith (Suwanee, Ga.) pounded home his fourth score of the season, pulling the Lakers to within one at the 72:42 mark.
 
With the ice broken, as it were, Clayton State responded by maintaining the pressure. That would pay off again as freshman midfielder Shams Elakabawy (Amsterdam, Holland) found freshman midfielder Will Summerfield (Bedford, England) for the equalizer at 81:40, driving the ball low past the keeper from 14 yards out.
 
The Braves were not done, however, as Walshaw struck again, this time just minutes later at the 85:15 mark. That opportunity would come in the form of a penalty kick, which he would bury in the back of the net for the eventually game-winner. UNCP's defense would then salt away the remaining four-plus minutes to secure a 3-2 victory.
 
Walshaw would finish with a pair of goals to lead UNC Pembroke while Taks would notch a solo score. Hanratty and Theis would each post assists and Lucas Gusmao would go the distance in goal. He would allow both scores and make a pair of saves to improve to 3-1 on the year.
 
Smith delivered his team-high tying fourth goal of the year to pace Clayton State while Summerfield had the first of his career. Nakhli and Elakabawy each netted an assist to round out the offense. In goal, freshman goalkeeper Leuri Fraire (Dalton, Ga.) played all 90 minutes and made three saves while allowing all three goals to drop to 1-2.
 
The Lakers are now off until Wednesday, September 28 when they host Montevallo (4-1, 0-1 PBC). Game time is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. following the women's game against the Falcons.