MORROW, Ga. – Staring down a repeat of the start of last season, Clayton State (3-0, 0-0 PBC) made sure that a tie would not be on the menu as they pulled out a 2-1 double overtime victory over Christian Brothers (1-1, 0-0 GSC) in an NCAA Division II women's soccer game on Friday, September 13.
 
Playing in 91-degree weather, it would be CBU that would capitalize early on as they picked up a corner in the 16^th minute. Bailey Tadlock served that into the box where Bobbie Willis would put a foot on it and drive it to the back of the goal for a 1-0 lead at the 15:36 mark.
 
It would take nearly 20 minutes but the Lakers would be able to take advantage of their defense allowing just that one score. That would pay off in the 35^th minute as freshman midfielder Teya Holloman (Marietta, Ga.) got loose and played a ball into the box. That pass was handled by senior midfielder Manoly Baquerizo (Guayaquil, Ecuador) who sliced her way in and drove home the equalizer with 34:07 gone by.
 
That 1-1 tally would not only persist into halftime, it would last the rest of regulation, despite a pair of strong offensive opportunities down the stretch for Clayton State. They would fire off nine of their 24 shots in the second half but only two of their 12 shots on goal would come then.
 
In the final eight minutes of regulation the Lakers pounded five shots on the Buccaneers defense as Baquerizo and sophomore midfielder Pia Haug (Ytre Enebakk, Norway) would have their attempts blocked within six seconds of each other at the start of the 82^nd minute.
 
Staying in the offensive end senior defender Janne Brouer (Aarhus, Denmark) drilled two shots within three minutes to keep the pressure up before junior midfielder Ann-Cathrin Zabel (Schwarme, Germany) put one on net that required a save with 52 seconds left. Despite that barrage, the teams would head to overtime deadlocked at 1-1.
 
That extra frame would begin with another shot by Zabel on net in the first 10 seconds and another just under five minutes in that went wide. Baquerizo followed with one at the 96:39 mark that forced CBU keeper Mia Holmes to make a save before Zabel had another attempt blocked with just over two minutes left. The Bucs would fend off that flurry and not record a shot in the 10 minute session to send it to double overtime.
 
That would change at the open of the final period as Meg Sander put one on net requiring a diving save by junior Valentina Bonaiuto (Valencia, Venezuela) in the first 19 seconds. It would also be their only attempt and the tide would turn with just under four minutes to play.
 
At that point a foul would knock down Brouer and necessitate a stoppage in play. As she went to the sideline for the briefest of moments, a pair of key subs checked in for each club. Christian Brothers had been playing without leading scorer Hannah Ward since early in the game and Holloman had been on the bench for some time.
 
It would be the Lakers combination of Holloman – fresh off the bench – and Brouer – fresh off the ground – that would prove to be the difference makers. Less than a minute after resuming play those two would put an end to things as Holloman brought the ball up the right side, drawing a defender before lofting it to left side of the goal mouth to Brouer. The latter then drilled it past the keeper on the right side for the game-winner in a 2-1 decision.
 
The victory moves Clayton State to 3-0 for just the fourth time in program history, trailing only the 2004 NCAA Tournament bound team that opened at 4-0. The 2012 and 2016 squads also won their first three games before dropping the fourth outing.
 
Leading the way for the Buccaneers was Willis with their lone goal while Tadlock had the assist on that score. The latter would add a team-high three shots with two landing on net. Mia Holmes played all 107:24 in goal, surrendering both scores while making eight saves. Despite a pair of saves by her defense, she drops to 1-1 on the year.
 
Leading the way for Clayton State was Holloman with a career-high two assists, those going to Baquerizo and Brouer. Zabel led all players with seven shots, four of which were on net, and Baquerizo fired off six with four on frame. Bonaiuto continued her stellar play in between the pipes as she went the distance, making a career-high tying five saves against just the one goal allowed. She moves to a sterling 3-0 on the year.
 
The Lakers return to action on Sunday, September 15 when they host Queens (N.C) in non-conference action. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Laker Field.
 
NOTES
With their 3-0 start, they have matched the men's program's current mark and together it is the first time in Clayton State history that both teams have been 3-0 at the same time.