DUE WEST, S.C. – Clayton State (2-5-2, 1-1-0 PBC) built a 2-0 first half lead only to see Erskine (1-6-1, 0-4-0 CC) battle back to force a 2-2 tie in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Wednesday, October 3.
 
The Lakers took advantage of an early opportunity as senior defender Kwaku Dwamena (Lorton, Va.) and freshman forward Brad Kay (Manchester, England) raced down field in the eighth minute. Dwamena dished on the run to Kay who then drove home the opening goal for a 1-0 lead at the 7:55 mark.
 
That opening score would hold up for the next 32 minutes as the defenses took control but that would not last. Clayton State would strike again, this time as redshirt-junior Carlos Naranjo (Fayetteville, Ga.) fired off a shot from the right corner of the box that found its mark with 40:40 gone by for a 2-0 lead.
 
After taking that margin to the half, it would stay that way until the 52^nd minute when Erskine got on the board. Sam Cable found Dario Pavon to make it 2-1 at the 51:51 mark. It would then be another extended scoring drought that would be more than 30 minutes but it would be the Flying Fleet that would break it this time.
 
It would once again be Pavon doing the damage as Alex Mushata found him for the equalizer with 4:24 to play. That goal would end up sending the teams to overtime as the Lakers managed just one shot, albeit one requiring a save, in the final minutes.
 
In the extra session it would be all EC as they fired off a shot that was blocked, had a corner kick and drove one high. Clayton State survived that first 10 minute session and would open up the offense in the final 10 in an effort to break up the deadlock.
 
Kay would rip off two of the Lakers four shots in the period with the last being the third in a row for the team following a corner kick in the 107^th and 108^th minutes. Meanwhile Erskine would manage just two shots but junior goalkeeper Leuri Fraire (Dalton, Ga.) made a save on the last of those, an attempt by Vicente Belloso with 45 seconds to play. From there the clubs would settle for a 2-2 tie.
 
Pavon recorded both of the Flying Fleet's goals while Cable and Mushata registered assists to fuel the offense. In net, Alex Pico played all 110 minutes and made 10 saves against a pair of goals allowed to settle his record at 1-6-1.
 
Kay powered Clayton State with one of the two goals while putting all six of his shots on goal and Naranjo delivered his second score of the season and his career. Dwamena added to his team leading point total (13) with the only assist on the night. Fraire logged all 110 minutes and made five saves while surrendering just two scores. His record now stands at 1-4-2.
 
The Lakers return home to face Flagler on Saturday, October 6. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. at Laker Field.
 
NOTES
The tie is the first in the 13 game series history between the two teams … Clayton State leads the series 10-2-1.