MORROW, Ga. – It would take until later in the game for the offense to come to life but it would fuel a 4-1 decision as Clayton State (3-0-2, 1-0-0 PBC) remained undefeated and battled past Georgia Southwestern (2-4-0, 0-1-0 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Wednesday, September 19.
 
In a change of recent fortune, it would be GSW that would get on the board first as they pushed into the offensive end at the tail end of the 12^th minute. Emily Collum charged into the far right corner and crossed the ball to Ella Hawkins just off the right corner of the goal. There she would chip the ball over the keeper and into the left corner for a 1-0 lead at the 12:03 mark.
 
It wouldn't take long for the Lakers to answer, however, as they advanced back into the offensive half of the field. This time it would be junior midfielder Jane McKevitt (Thurles, Ireland) firing a ball from the right wing. A high arcing shot, the keeper attempted to tip it over the crossbar but couldn't quite get the elevation and deflected as it went into the net for the equalizer at 21:21.
 
The score would remain deadlocked at 1-1, despite a tremendous opportunity in the 39^th minute for Clayton State. That would come in the form of a foul in the box and penalty kick for sophomore midfielder Ann-Cathrin Zabel (Schwarme, Germany). The Hurricanes' Victoria Moore would be equal to the task as she made the stop on a shot to the middle of the goal at the 38:37 mark.
 
Within minutes Zabel would get another opportunity, this time racing down the right sideline. From there she would power the ball from the right corner to the far left corner of the net to put the Lakers up 2-1 at the 40:56 mark. Not only would that score persist to the half, it would do so deep into the second half.
 
It would take until the 78^th minute for that to change but when it did it would be in the Lakers favor. Graduate defender Hikari Taguchi (Saitama, Japan) played a ball into the far left side of the box that was deflected off the keeper – right to waiting junior defender Manoly Baquerizo (Guayaquil, Ecuador). Clayton State's leading scorer then hit a low line drive to the back of the net to make it 3-1 at 77:56.
 
After that long offensive draught to start the second half, they weren't done. Freshman midfielder Marie Devillers (Toulouse, France) would capitalize on a free kick at the 84:45 mark. Lined up at the top of the box, she lofted a shot over the keeper to dead center of the net to reach what would eventually be the final margin of 4-1.
 
Hawkins led the Hurricanes with their only score of the game while Collum collected the assist. The latter, along with Hawkins, Alison Rugel and Leila Hamed, each had a shot on goal. In net, Victoria Moore played all 90 minutes, allowing four goals while making 12 saves. She drops to 0-1 on the year.
 
Clayton State was led by four different goal scorers as McKevitt, Zabel, Baquerizo and Devillers all found the back of the net. Taguchi would pick up an assist on the night and freshman forward Isabel Massa (Caracas, Venezuela) and Baquerzio would lead with five shots apiece. Sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Richards (Huddersfield, England) went the distance again, this time giving up just the one score while making three saves. She improves to 3-0-2 on the season.
 
As a team, they have now joined the 2002, 2004 and 2007 team's as the only ones to open the year undefeated through five games. Only the 2002 team extended to six straight before dropping a game.
 
The Lakers return to action on Saturday, September 22 when they host Flagler (3-2, 1-1 PBC). Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Laker Field.
 
NOTES
Clayton State is now a perfect 13-0 against the Hurricanes dating to the first meeting in 2006 … the Lakers outshot GSW by a 27-4 margin and were up 8-2 in corner kicks.
 

Georgia Southwestern vs. Clayton State (9/19/18)