YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – Facing one of the toughest teams in the nation, Clayton State (2-7-2, 1-3-0 PBC) gave No. 2 Young Harris (12-0-0, 4-0-0) all they could handle before falling by a slim 1-0 score in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Saturday, October 13.
 
Despite managing only four shots in the first half the Lakers hung with YHC, keeping it scoreless into the 41^st minute. In that time they turned away eight shots but it would be the ninth that would get them. That would come in the form of a corner kick by James Thomas that Val Feeney would then redirect to Connor Stanley. The latter would then head it in at 40:24 for a narrow 1-0 lead.
 
Less than three minutes later the Mountain Lions tried again only to have freshman goalkeeper Kari Puustinen (Orimattila, Finland) stonewall a shot by Carl Brannstrom. They would manage one more attempt, high by Thomas some 30 seconds later, before taking that one goal margin into the break.
 
It would remain that way deep into the second half but not without some developments along the way. With 69:48 gone by, Young Harris would lose their All-American hopeful keeper, Alex Iglesias, to an undisclosed injury. Entering the game he had played every minute and was replaced by backup Christian Kjellsby.
 
Just four minutes in he would be tested by sophomore midfielder Mitro Turunen (Vantaa, Finland) who put a shot on net that required a save. In the 81^st minute it would get even hotter for him in the crease.
 
Redshirt-junior Carlos Naranjo (Fayetteville, Ga.) fired off a shot at point blank range that Kjellsby made the stop on then had to rely on his defense to block another close attempt by senior defender Kwaku Dwamena (Richmond, Va.) just three seconds later. That would be as close as they would come to the equalizer, however, as YHC held on over the final nine minutes for the narrow 1-0 victory.
 
Stanley led the Mountain Lions in their lowest offensive output since falling 2-1 to No. 24 Lynn in the Elite Eight on November 19, 2017. He would produce their lone goal with Feeney and Thomas each collecting an assist on it.
 
In net, Iglesias would get the win to move to 12-0-0 after playing 69:48 before leaving due to injury. He would make no saves on the night. Kjellsby took over for him and played the last 20:12, making a pair of key saves to hold onto the 1-0 decision.
 
No goals did not mean no offensive effort for Clayton State as they fired off nine total shots. Freshman forward Brad Kay (Manchester, England) and Dwamena each had two attempts while Turunen and Naranjo had the only shots on goal with one apiece. Puustinen played the best game of his career as he logged all 90 minutes and held the No. 2 team in the nation to one goal. Along the way he made six saves and drops to 1-3-0 on the year.
 
The Lakers return home to face Emmanuel in non-conference action on Wednesday, October 17. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Laker Field.
 
NOTES
Young Harris is now 12-0 and No. 2 in the country … it is the first time all season that they have been held to just one goal.