FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – Facing a very successful Emmanuel (7-3-1, 4-1-1 CC) squad on the road, Clayton State (8-3-0, 1-0-0 PBC) relied on one of the nation's best keepers, and defenses for that matter, to secure a 1-0 victory in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Wednesday, October 16.
Both teams came out firing in the first half as they combined for 15 shots, nine of those by the Lakers. The latter would fire off eight of those in the first 29 minutes while EC got half of theirs in the final six minutes to head to the half deadlocked at 0-0.
That would change near the start of the second half as Clayton State ripped off three quick shots before finally capitalizing at the 53:50 mark. That would come in the form of junior forward
Isaac Pimenta's (Kennesaw, Ga.) second goal of the season as junior midfielder
Mitro Turunen (Vantaa, Finland) found him in front of the net for a 1-0 lead.
The Lions would muster just three shots in the second half and would put none on net as the Lakers defense continued to hold them down. That dominant effort for the full 90 minutes would make that 1-0 lead possible and hold up as the program recorded its seventh shutout of the season.
Channing Park and Jeffrey Appiah led EC with two shots apiece, the latter putting one on goal, while Sam Murphy had the only other shot on frame on his only attempt. Giuliano Palma played all 90 minutes in goal, making six saves and giving up the lone score to fall to 7-3-1.
Pimenta and Turunen accounted for Clayton State's offense with a goal and assist, respectively, while sophomore midfielder
Jack Stevens (Brisbane, Australia) led the way with five shots. Blachon delivered his seventh shutout in 11 games to continue to keep him among the national leaders in that category as he recorded a pair of saves in 90 minutes. He is now 8-3-0 on the year.
The Lakers wrap up their mini two game road swing as they take their farthest trip of the year, that being to Flagler, on Saturday, October 19. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. in St. Augustine, Florida.
