MORROW, Ga. – With two games left in the regular season and holding down the final spot for the 2018 Peach Belt Conference Tournament, Clayton State (2-9-2, 1-4-0 PBC) men's soccer faces an uphill battle in their final home game as they host No. 10 Lander (11-1-2, 4-1 PBC) on Wednesday, October 24. Game time is set for a special 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Laker Field on Senior Day.
 
While the game against the Bearcats is important, the Lakers postseason hopes may come down to their final game, that being at USC Aiken on Saturday, October 27. The Pacers are currently in seventh with two points with Clayton State holding a narrow one point advantage with three points. The PBC will have a full breakdown but here's how it looks as of today.
 
If Lander were to prevail, and even with a USCA win over Francis Marion tomorrow, a win on Saturday would still lock down the final berth by a 6-5 margin. If both teams were to fall then it would come down to only needing a tie to advance on points, 4-2. A tie against LU and a Pacers win over FMU would make it 5-4 (USCA) and keep them within reach with a win in the weekend contest. In that situation, a tie in that game would still fall in Aiken's favor, 6-5.
 
On the flip side, Clayton State's chances to advance above the No. 6 seed are limited based upon head-to-head tiebreakers. They can still muster as many as nine points with a pair of wins, which would tie them with FMU and North Georgia if both teams were to lose out. However, both of those clubs hold tiebreakers by virtue of wins during the season.
 
The most likely area for advancement for the Lakers is Flagler and the No. 5 spot. The Saints also hold the tiebreak so a deadlock at the end of the season would do no good. It would require a pair of wins in their final two games and for FC to do no better than a tie at home against Georgia Southwestern (3-8-2, 0-4-1 PBC) on Wednesday or at No. 10 Lander on Saturday.
 
Meanwhile, one of the most straight forward scenarios for making the field is upsetting the Bearcats and the Pacers falling to FMU. That would produce an insurmountable 6-2 spread entering the final game for both teams.
 
In terms of the all-time series against Lander, the Lakers trail 8-19-3 following a pair of losses last season. That included a 2-0 margin in Greenwood, South Carolina on September 16 and a 5-1 score in the PBC Semifinals in Augusta, Georgia on November 3. Overall, the Bearcats have claimed 10 of the last 12 meetings dating back to October 31, 2009. During that stretch Clayton State notched a 1-0 victory on October 30, 2010 and 2-0 decision on October 11, 2014. Both of those came at Laker Field.
 
There will be live video and live stats coverage of the game, both of which are available on www.ClaytonStateSports.com.
 
NOTES
Clayton State Athletics will recognize the lone men's soccer senior, defender Kwaku Dwamena (Lorton, Va.) prior to the game.

Scouting The Clayton State University Lakers
Record: 2-9-2, 1-4-0 PBC
Last Time Out: L, 6-1 vs. Francis Marion on October 20
Streak: Four Losses
 
Quick Links
Men's Soccer Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
 
Individual Statistical Offensive Leaders
Goals: Kwaku Dwamena, Brad Kay – 5
Assists: Kwaku Dwamena – 5
Points: Kwaku Dwamena – 15
 
Individual Statistical Goalkeeper Leaders
Minutes: Kari Puustinen  – 615:08
Save Percentage: Leuri Fraire – .722
Goals Against Average: Leuri Fraire – 2.21
Saves: Kari Puustinen – 48
Wins: Leuri Fraire, Kari Puustinen– 1
Shutouts: N/A – 0
 
Team Offensive Statistics
Goals: 20
Assists: 14
Points: 54
 
Team Defensive Statistics
Goals Against Average: 2.50
Save Percentage: .719
Shutouts: 0

 
Scouting The No. 10 Lander University Bearcats
Record: 11-1-2, 4-1-0 PBC
Last Time Out: W, 1-0 vs. Georgia Southwestern on October 20
Streak: Four Unbeaten (3 wins, 1 tie)
 
Quick Links
Men's Soccer Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
 
Individual Statistical Offensive Leaders
Goals: Jordan Skelton – 6
Assists: Jamie North – 5
Points: Jamie North, Jordan Skelton – 13
 
Individual Statistical Goalkeeper Leaders
Minutes: Jacob Withers – 850:00
Save Percentage: Jose Eduardo Bomfim – .857
Goals Against Average: Jacob Withers – 0.42
Saves: Jacob Withers – 24
Wins: Jose Eduardo Bomfim, Jacob Withers – 5
Shutouts: Jacob Withers – 7
 
Team Offensive Statistics
Goals: 25
Assists: 20
Points: 70
 
Team Defensive Statistics
Goals Against Average: 0.48
Save Percentage: .825
Shutouts: 9