MORROW, Ga. – Opening the day on the outside looking in if the Peach Belt Conference Tournament were to start today, Clayton State (6-5-1, 3-4-1 PBC) picked up a much needed 1-0 victory at Francis Marion (6-6-1, 3-5-0 PBC) in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Saturday, October 26 that greatly improved their league standing.
 
Having gone undefeated against the Patriots in their last six, and outscored them 19-1 in the last four – all wins – the Lakers put forth yet another dominant effort. Unlike in recent meetings it would not be a display of scoring but of defense as they limited FMU to just three shots, only one of which was on frame.
 
Clayton State would be relentless as they fired off shot after shot throughout the first half as they recorded five of their seven in that period in the first 26 minutes. It would be the final two of the frame that would be the difference makers, however.
 
Sophomore midfielder Pia Haug (Ytre Enebakk, Norway) got loose in the box at the very start of the 38^th minute and ripped off a shot that bounced off the keeper. The ball then caromed out to senior midfielder Manoly Baquerizo (Guayaquil, Ecuador) who delivered a touch pass to senior defender Janne Brouer (Aarhus, Denmark) in the box.
 
One of the most offensive minded defenders in the Southeast Region in 2019, Brouer then delivered her team-leading sixth goal of the year, this one coming at the 38:08 mark. Back on defense, Brouer and the Lakers would make that hold up not just to and through halftime but for the remaining 51-plus minutes as they secured a hard-fought 1-0 road victory.
 
The Patriots posted just three shots on the day as three different players tried their hand – all unsuccessfully. The only one that put hers on net was Kiley Barr, that in the 36^th minute directly prior to the game's lone goal. In net, Micahla Kitchen played all 90 minutes and made 10 saves to suffer the hard luck defeat, dropping to 5-3.
 
Brouer led the way for Clayton State as she picked up her 11^th career goal, all of which have come in the past three seasons. Her sixth goal of the season also tied her with Baquerizo with 12 points for the team lead, with the latter picking up the assist on her score. As a team, the Lakers were extremely accurate as they took 16 shots and put 12 of them on frame.
 
Junior goalkeeper Valentina Bonaiuto (Valencia, Venezuela) may not have been tested but once but she was equal to the task and directed her defense to her second shutout in three games. On the day she made one save and improves to 6-4-1.
 
Not only does the win directly benefit Clayton State by vaulting them over FMU into the PBC postseason picture, it provides them with the head-to-head tiebreaker should it be needed. The victory is also fortuitous as two of the teams ahead of them lost, currently putting them in seventh after starting the day in ninth place in the standings. Georgia College lost 2-0 to Columbus State and Lander surprisingly fell 2-1 in overtime at Albany State.
 
The Lakers will close out the month when they host that Georgia College team in another key PBC contest on Wednesday, October 30. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at Laker Field.