MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State (2-0-1, 0-0-0 PBC) battled the full 110 minutes against West Georgia (0-1-2, 0-0-0 GSC), scoring in the 65
th minute and holding on late to earn a 1-1 tie in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Friday, September 7.
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Neither team would manage a shot over the first 10 plus minutes but the Lakers were able to turn away back-to-back corner kicks in the ninth and 11
th minutes. The ensuing possession from the second corner, however, provided the Wolves with the first real scoring opportunity and they would take advantage of it.
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UWG's Katie Mitchell recovered the ball in front of the net and chipped it in for a 1-0 lead at the 11 minute mark. That lead would hold up the rest of the way as the Lakers managed just four shots in the half. Their best opportunity came when freshman midfielder
Pia Haug (Ytre Enebakk, Norway) landed a shot at the 32:32 mark that caromed off the crossbar.
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Shots would still be at a premium entering the second 45 minutes at the Lakers produced just two over the first 14 minutes. With 64:51 gone by, however, one of those attempts would strike home as freshman midfielder
Natalie Barbara (Ballarat, Australia) found the back of the net, delivering the equalizer to make it 1-1.
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Clayton State and West Georgia would each fire off three more shots the rest of the way but none would connect, sending the game to overtime. The first extra session contest of the young season, the Lakers came out firing as both Haug and freshman midfielder
Moa Loftman (Karlstad, Sweden) put shots on net that required saves.
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They would also be the only shots of the first overtime period as the clubs continued into the 100
th minute deadlocked. That final frame would be beset by fouls as the Lakers committed three and UWG was guilty of one.
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The clubs would then trade shots in the 105
th and 106
th minutes, with neither coming close. That would not be the case later in the period, however, as West Georgia's Jazmine Santiago had her shot blocked at 107:22 and before coming back a minute and a half later. Her second attempt would be corralled by sophomore goalkeeper
Hannah Richards (Huddersfield, England) as the last solid chance before sealing the 1-1 tie.
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Mitchell led UWG with their lone goal and was joined with a pair of shots by Santiago, one on net, to lead the offensive effort. Hillary Resendiz would have the only other shot on goal while Jackie Donaldson played all 110 minutes in net. The latter made four saves and allowed the one score to move to 0-1-2 on the year.
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Barbara delivered the only score for Clayton State, doing so on two shots, while Haug led with four total. Freshman forward
Isabel Massa (Caracas, Venezuela) added a pair of shots to round out the offense. Richards would produce her second straight impressive performance as she also played all 110 minutes, making a pair of saves, including one very late, while allowing just the one score. She improves to 2-0-1 on the young season.
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The Lakers are right back in action on Sunday, September 9 when they take on Montevallo. Game time is set for 12 p.m. in Milledgeville, Ga.
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NOTES
The undefeated start through three games marks the first time since opening the 2016 season 3-0.
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