MORROW, Ga. – A pair of second half goals, including one from near midfield, were too much to overcome as Clayton State (5-4-1, 2-3-1 PBC) dropped a 3-1 decision to UNC Pembroke (9-3-0, 4-2-0 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Sunday, October 20.
 
After having to wait an extra day to play the game, the Braves decided not to wait very much longer as they got on the board right out of the gate. That would take the form of Paula Valbuena who collected a loose ball in front of the net in the opening minute and quickly found the back of the net with just 51 seconds gone by for a 1-0 lead.
 
That margin would hold less than 17 minutes as the Lakers would deliver the equalizer in impressive fashion in the 18^th minute. Sophomore midfielder Pia Haug (Ytre Enebakk, Norway)      headed down a ball on the right side of the goal mouth and promptly sent it in the direction of senior midfielder Jane McKevitt (Thurles, Ireland).
 
Just several feet off the right side of the goal, the ball came to her in the air and she proceeded to half bicycle it out of the air and drive it to the top left corner of the net to knot things up at 1-1 with 17:33 gone by. Several offensive charges by both teams over the remaining minutes would not find pay dirt as the clubs went to the half with that score.
 
Defense would continue to be the order of the day nearly 30 minutes into the second half but that would change in the 75^th minute and it would be Valbuena once again. This time her score wouldn't come quickly, it would come from deep as she collected a ball just past the midfield stripe and powered it all the way to the net, just over the outstretched hands of the keeper for a 2-1 lead at the 74:26 mark.
 
Just over 11 minutes later it would be the Braves that would capitalize one more time as Alexis Pittman hammered a shot from the right side of the net that deflected off the keeper. That deflection would then be recovered by Bree Mason in front of the net and drilled home to reach the eventual final score of 3-1, that score coming with 86:04 gone by.
 
Valbuena led the way for UNCP with a pair of scores while Mason had the only other score. Pittman rounded out the offense with her assist and Gina Ryan held it down in goal. She played all 90 minutes, making nine saves against just the one score to move to 9-3-0.
 
Clayton State would be led by McKevitt's goal and Haug's assist while senior midfielder Manoly Baquerizo (Guayaquil, Ecuador) fired off five shots, including a game-high tying four on frame. Junior goalkeeper Valentina Bonaiuto (Valencia, Venezuela) played the whole way in net, making four saves and allowing three goals. She falls to 5-4-1 on the season.
 
The Lakers return to action on Wednesday, October 23 when they travel to No. 19 North Georgia. Game time is set for 5 p.m. in Dahlonega, Georgia.

FULL GAME VIDEO