CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A span of 34 seconds in the 81^st minute would be Clayton State's (0-1, 0-0 PBC) undoing in what was otherwise a strong defensive effort in a 2-1 loss at Queens (1-0, 0-0 SAC) in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Thursday, August 31.
 
Over the first 70 minutes, the game would epitomize a defensive battle as the teams combined for 23 shots but just three on goal. That would change as junior midfielder Tom Mitchinson (Middlesbrough, England) sidestepped a defender in the corner and crossed the ball in front of the goalmouth in the 71^st minute.
 
On the other end of that pass former Spartanburg Methodist teammate and junior defender Kwaku Dwamena (Richmond, Va.) headed the ball past the keeper for a 1-0 lead at the 70:08 mark. It was the first points at the NCAA level for both players.
 
With the lid off, Queens would answer back almost exactly 10 minutes later as Keegan Burton fired one in from distance to tie it at 1-1 at the 80:04 mark. Just 30 seconds later, the Royals would rush the offensive end and bang one off the keeper. Off that rebound, Alberto Morales headed home the go-ahead goal at 80:38, making it a 2-1 margin.
 
That burst from out of nowhere would be all that QUC would need as they held on for the final eight-plus minutes to secure the one goal victory.
 
Queens was led by Burton and Morales with a goal apiece while Edmundo Robinson fired off a team-high five shots, two on goal. Morales and Adam Ward were second with four each, also with a pair on net. Ben Wallace played all 90 minutes in goal, allowing just the one score and making one save to pick up the win and move 1-0 on the year.
 
Dwamena led the way for Clayton State with his first career goal while Mitchinson notched the game's lone assist. The latter also posted a team-high four shots while freshman defender Dionysius Harmon (Loganville, Ga.) finished with three shots, one on goal.
 
In net, redshirt-senior goalkeeper Oliver Pannell (Nottingham, England) was the hard luck loser after being perfect for most of the night. He would finish with two goals allowed and six saves in 90 minutes to fall to 0-1.
 
The Lakers remain on the road as they head to Emmanuel (0-0) for a non-conference tilt on Sunday, September 3. Game time is set for 6 p.m. in Franklin Springs, Georgia.
 
NOTES
The game kicked off the 14^th season at the helm of the Lakers for head coach Pete Petersen.