MORROW, Ga. – In an otherwise strong defensive effort, Clayton State (2-3, 0-2 PBC) surrendered an untimely goal as UNC Pembroke (3-2, 1-0 PBC) escaped with a 1-0 victory in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Wednesday, September 20.
 
Despite a number of prime opportunities, including back-to-back point blank attempts by senior forward Iciar Duran (Madrid, Spain) early on, neither team cracked the scoreboard in the first half as they headed to the break deadlocked at 0-0.
 
It would not stay that way for long as UNCP launched a break a little more than five minutes into the second half. Jasmine Senecal-Guzman collected the ball just past midfield on the left wing and centered it to Alexis Pittman at the top of the arc. From there she took it to the right and slipped it past the keeper into the right corner for a 1-0 lead at 50:46.
 
The Lakers would manage just four shots in the entire second half, all after that score. Their best opportunity to tie it up came off the foot of sophomore defender Manoly Baquerizo (Guayaquil, Ecuador) who rifled a pair of shots in a span of 22 seconds in the 77^th and 78^th minutes. The first went wide left with the second being blocked by a defender in close. The Braves would recover from those attempts and go on to close out the narrow 1-0 victory 22 minutes later.
 
Pittman's goal and Senecal-Guzman's assist accounted for the only points in the game and led UNC Pembroke. The former would also lead the club with three shots, all on goal, while Carly Rochelle and Katie Watkins also put a pair on net. Gina Ryan was solid in goal, making four saves in 90 minutes of action to earn the shutout. She improves to 3-2 on the year.
 
Duran led the way for Clayton State with a game-high four shots, three on net, while Baquerizo notched three attempts. Senior forward Skyler Young (Conyers, Ga.) delivered the only other shot on goal to round out the offense.
 
Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Jessica Charman (Harefield, England) played all 90 minutes and allowed just the one goal to suffer the hard luck 1-0 defeat. In the process she made 11 saves, coming in just two shy of equaling her career-high set in the 1-0 victory over The Citadel on September 10. It is just the second time in her career that she has reached double-digit saves. She falls to 2-3 on the season but with just three goals allowed in her last four games.
 
The Lakers return to action on Saturday, September 23 when they host Georgia College as the second half of a doubleheader. Game time is set for approximately 5 p.m. following the 2:30 p.m. men's game against Limestone.