COLUMBUS, Ga. – A scoreless first half and knotting the game up on a penalty kick in the second half would just not quite be enough as Clayton State (3-3-2, 1-3-0 PBC) went toe-to-toe with No. 3 Columbus State (7-0-1, 4-0-0 PBC) before falling by a 3-1 score in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Saturday, September 29.
 
With the odds stacked against them and a roster beset with injuries, the Lakers came out and played inspired ball. Over the first 45 minutes they would deliver lockdown defense as they turned away four shots, two on goal, to head to the break deadlocked at 0-0.
 
At the start of the second half the pace would pick up considerably as Columbus stepped up their offensive pressure. That would result in a dangerous free kick that Tehgan Anguilm put just off the right corner of the goal, only to see it headed away. On the ensuing break, Clayton State got into the offensive end and nearly chipped a ball past the keeper in the 55^th minute before seeing it knocked away.
 
The Cougars, however, would finally find their offense as a loose ball in the box in the 61^st minute presented a rare opportunity. Kimmy May would put a foot on it in the box to drive it home for a 1-0 lead at 60:17. That, however, would not be the end of the scoring.
 
With exactly 65 minutes gone by, Columbus State would be whistled for a foul in the box to set up a penalty kick for the Lakers. Entering at 0-3 in such opportunities so far this season, that infraction would prove to be a costly one as junior defender Manoly Baquerizo (Guayaquil, Ecuador) sent a dribbler to the left corner to knot it up at 1-1.
 
Just over 11 minutes later it would be the Cougars turn to capitalize as they pushed into the box. Off a pass from Parker Morgan, Olivia Jarrell lofted a shot from the right side that bounced off the left post before dribbling in for a 2-1 lead with 76:09 off the clock.
 
Faced with rapidly dwindling time, the Lakers ramped up their offensive efforts, garnering a number of free kicks that kept the pressure on Columbus. That would cap out with one from the right wing being knocked away with 4:49 to play.
 
That would be their last, best opportunity to tie the game, however, as Rachael Sweigard got the ball up field quickly, finding Maria Kilset. The latter would then drive home the Cougars third goal at 86:43 to reach the eventual final margin of 3-1.
 
Leading the way for Columbus State were Jarrell, Kilset and May with a goal apiece while Sweigard and Morgan each notched assists. In net, Bria Riancho played all 90 minutes, allowing just the one goal against a pair of saves to improve to 7-0-1.
 
For Clayton State, Baquerizo would get on the board with her team leading fourth score of the year. On the day, the team would be limited to five total shots with just three on net, including Baquerizo's. Between the pipes sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Richards (Huddersfield, England) went the distance, making two saves against three goals against. She falls to 3-3-1 overall.
 
The Lakers return to action on Wednesday, October 3 when they host future Peach Belt Conference member Albany State. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Laker Field.