MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State (13-5, 5-2 PBC) used goals by three different players and a solid defensive effort across the board to post a 3-1 victory over USC Aiken (4-11, 2-5 PBC) and secure the No. 3 seed in the 2019 Peach Belt Conference Tournament in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Saturday, November 9.
 
After 20-plus minutes of both teams being active in their respective offensive ends, it would be the Lakers that would finally break through. Sophomore midfielder Jack Stevens (Brisbane, Australia) would deliver a corner right where it would need to be at 22:59 and sophomore forward Brad Kay (Manchester, England) headed it home for his 10^th score of the year and a 1-0 lead.
 
It would take more than 40 minutes but Kay would factor prominently in Clayton State's second score, this at the 65:49 mark. He would serve a ball ahead from the left wing to the right side of the goal where redshirt-sophomore midfielder Cody Crimmins (McDonough, Ga.) waited. Taking it out of the air, he half bicycled it into the back right corner of the net to make it 2-0.
 
The Pacers would finally take advantage of an opportunity in the 72^nd minute as David Box was opportunistic. Seeing a loose ball in the box he charged and played it in to cut the deficit in half at 2-1 with 71:40 gone by. It wouldn't stay that way and it would be one of the most dangerous scorers in the country making it happen.
 
Redshirt-senior midfielder Ryan King (County Durham, England) is a scoring threat the minute he steps on the field and you only make it worse when you give him a penalty kick. That is exactly what happened with 83:56 to play and he would not disappoint. Coming into the game at 4-for-4 on PKs he would make it a perfect five as he leveled the ball to the left corner for his 16^th score of the season and what would be the eventual final margin of 3-1.
 
Box would lead USCA with his lone goal and Giuseppe Cimino fired off three shots, two on net, to round out the offense. Kenneth Kalek started and went 70:27, allowing two scores and making a pair of saves to fall to 3-10. Brendan Gribek relieved him, playing the final 19:33 and allowing the penalty kick against three saves.
 
It would be solo scores from Crimmins, Kay and King that would fuel the Lakers offense along with assists by Kay and Stevens. Junior goalkeeper Theo Blachon (St. Etienne, France) was his usual impressive self, playing all 90 minutes and making four saves against just one goal allowed. He improves to 13-5 on the year.
 
The Lakers will now host No. 6 seed Flagler (4-11-1, 3-4-0 PBC) in a PBC Quarterfinal on Tuesday, November 12 at Laker Field. Game time is yet to be announced.
 
NOTES
The 13 wins tie for the fourth most in program history behind the 2010 team's 19 victories, the 2000 squad's 18 wins and the 14 wins in 2007 … they are currently tied with the 2005 team … it is the most victories in a season since 2010 … prior to the game eight seniors were recognized for their contributions to Laker men's soccer … they included Connor Atkinson, Hector Gutierrez, Ryan King, Jordan Knight, Carlos Naranjo, Tim Neusesser, Ignacio Perez and Dusan Stankovic.
 
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