MORROW, Ga. – Facing a rival and one of the best teams in the country, Clayton State (10-4, 3-1 PBC) allowed a pair of early goals as they dropped a 2-0 decision to No. 21 Young Harris (9-3, 3-1) in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Saturday, October 26.
 
A physical game from the very start, the Mountain Lions took an early, hard foul that resulted in a Laker yellow card and then responded in the sixth minute. Anthony Gimenes raced down the left sideline and found Sondre Olsen further along. The latter then turned towards the net, getting an angle on the keeper and driving the ball into the right corner for a 1-0 lead at the 5:03 mark.
 
It would take another 17 minutes but YHC would capitalize on another prime scoring opportunity with 22:12 gone by. Following a foul that resulted in a free kick, Christian Kirchhoff served a ball from the left wing just outside of the box straight to the head of Ali Koller in front of the net. Koller then put a head on and just got it past the keeper for a two goal margin.
 
That difference would hold up despite each team managing three shots, two each on net, over the remaining 22-plus minutes as they headed to the half. The opportunities would ramp up in the second half as the Mountain Lions fired off another 10 shots while Clayton State posted seven. None of those would connect but would result in four saves each as Young Harris held on for the 2-0 victory.
 
Koller and Olsen delivered the goals for the Mountain Lions while Kirchhoff and Gimenes each had an assist to account for the offense. In net, Alex Iglesias was tested as he made six saves, some right on point, to earn the shutout and improve to 9-3.
 
The Lakers would fire off 10 shots on the day, putting six of them on goal. Sophomore forward Brad Kay (Manchester, England) led both of those categories with four shots and three of those on goal while senior defender Jordan Knight (Javea, Spain) was the only other individual with more than one shot, finishing with two.
 
Junior goalkeeper Theo Blachon (St. Etienne, France) played all 90 minutes and was peppered with 20 shots, allowing two scores and making eight saves. Despite that effort he would be the hard luck loser as he dropped to 10-4 on the year.
 
In a short turnaround, Clayton State will be right back in action on Tuesday, October 29 as they host North Greenville in their final non-conference action of the season. Game time is set for 5 p.m. at Laker Field.
 
FULL GAME VIDEO


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