AIKEN, S.C. – In a game with postseason implications, Clayton State (6-5-4, 3-5-2 PBC) went the distance as they battled USC Aiken (3-10-1, 1-7-1 PBC) for 110 minutes before deadlocking at 2-2 in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Wednesday, October 24. That result, paired with a Francis Marion loss, puts them back in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.
 
The Lakers would strike first as they found pay dirt in the 12^th minute of the game to take the early 1-0 lead. That would come about as junior defender Manoly Baquerizo (Guayaquil, Ecuador) continued to generate offense as she raced down the left side and found sophomore midfielder Ann-Cathrin Zabel (Schwarme, Germany) on the right side of the net. From there she headed it in for the one goal lead at 11:33.
 
It wouldn't take long to move the numbers on the scoreboard again, and again Baquerizo would factor prominently in that. Strong footed freshman midfielder Moa Loftman (Karlstad, Sweden) lofted a long cross from the right side and placed it perfectly, five yards out, where Clayton State's leading scorer ran on to it and added to that total to make it 2-0 with 15:08 gone by.
 
The scoring would continue but it would switch the color of the jersey that would be doing it. In the 25^th minute the Pacers made good use of a corner kick as Amanda Raleigh served it in, Willa Olson put a head on it and Monica Armendariz put it home at the 24:44 mark to cut it to 2-1.
 
With less than 10 minutes left in the half, it would be not one but two Olson's making the next score happen. Gressa Olson crossed the ball from the right corner in front of the goal where Willa Olson corralled it and played it in to knot it up at 2-2 at the 35:29 mark. After an active offensive half for both teams, the clubs would then take that score to the break.
 
It would be a completely different result in the second half, however, despite continued offensive pressure from the Lakers. They would fire off 10 of the frame's 12 shots through the 81^st minute but neither team would be able to find the back of the net. Clayton State would have a couple of solid opportunities from in close down the stretch but could not convert as the teams headed to overtime.
 
The Lakers would rip three shots in that 10 minute session, two by Baquerizo including one that required a save, but USCA would stave off each attempt to send the game to a final 10 minute period.
 
That frame would see Loftman live up to her name and loft a long ball from the right wing in the 107^th minute that just went high and onto the top of the netting. Two minutes later graduate defender Hikari Taguchi (Saitama, Japan) would just miss on a header on the right side of the goal and the Pacers Kennedy Smith answered with a shot on goal at the other end.
 
As part of that flurry of activity, sophomore defender Claudene Bent (Snellville, Ga.) raced back downfield and proceeded to fire off a shot from the left wing that the keeper was just barely able to swipe away with a leap. That game right as the game hit the final minute and setup a corner kick. Off of that, Baquerizo tried to pull off a header with 33 seconds left only to see it go high as the teams settled for a 2-2 tie.
 
USC Aiken was led by Willa Olson with a goal and an assist and a solo score by Armendariz. Gressa Olson and Raleigh each added an assist to round out the offense. Recovering from a challenging first half to play all 110 minutes in goal was Tashiana Kwatowski. She made 14 saves while allowing a pair of goals to move to 0-5-1 on the year.
 
Baquerizo would be in a familiar position for Clayton State as she led the way offensively, finishing with a goal and an assist. She was joined by Zabel with her third of the year and Loftman added an assist. Sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Richards (Huddersfield, England) logged 110 minutes for the fourth time this season as she allowed two scores and made for saves. She is now 6-5-4 on the season.
 
The Lakers have now closed out the regular season and will be the No. 8 seed in the upcoming 2018 Peach Belt Conference Tournament.
 
While there are still games to be played on Saturday, October 27, they cannot improve their position through other teams losing and will face No. 1 seed and regular season champion No. 3 Columbus State on Tuesday, October 30. That game will take place just down the road in Columbus, Georgia at a time yet to be determined.
 
NOTES
Due to an issue with officials travel, the game started approximately an hour and 15 minutes late … the game was the fifth overtime session of the year for Clayton State and the fourth tie … the latter is the third most ties in a season behind the 2013 squad (12-4-6) and the 2002 team (10-4-5).