MORROW, Ga. – Coming off a season that saw three wins and a Peach Belt Conference Semifinal berth, Clayton State (2-0, 0-0 PBC) men's soccer is two thirds of the way there through their first two games and clearly looking for more as they downed Erskine (0-1, 0-0 CC) 2-0 in an NCAA Division II men's soccer game on Saturday, September 7.
 
While their offense has started slowly in both games it has continued to produce to the tune of a pair of wins. On this night that scoring would start in a rather unusual way.
 
In the 43^rd minute sophomore forward Brad Kay (Manchester, England) broke away from the field just past midfield, drawing the keeper out in the process. That move would result in a deep, lofted shot to the back of the net for a 1-0 lead at the 42:04 mark. While a quality play, the oddity would be in the way that it started – on a massive punt from junior goalkeeper Theo Blachon (Etienne, France) that set up Kay and earned him his first career assist.
 
That score would hold into the half and well into the second until a Flying Fleet foul just outside the box setup an excellent scoring opportunity for the Lakers. That would come in the form of a free kick taken by early scoring leader redshirt-senior midfielder Ryan King (County Durham, England). With the clock stopped at 73:32 he would add to it as he lofted the ball from the left side over the four man wall and the keeper to make it 2-0.
 
Even with nearly 17 minutes left in the game, that would essentially put a wrap on things as Clayton State's defense proceeded to allow just one more shot, and not on net, to secure the 2-0 victory. With the win they are 2-0 for the first time since the 2015 season when, ironically, they also defeated Erskine (3-1 on 9/3) and Anderson (2-1 on 9/5).
 
Not only were their no goals to speak of for the Flying Fleet, there was nearly no offensive output as they mustered just five shots with none on goal. Each of those came from five different players. In net, Alex Pico started and played all 90 minutes, allowing both goals and making seven saves to fall to 0-1.
 
King continued his early tear for the Lakers as he added his third goal in two games while Kay notched his first score of the young season. Much like a baseball pitcher coming through with a hit to help his own cause, Blachon accomplished the soccer equivalent from in net as he earned the assist on Kay's goal.
 
In his day job, the 6-6 keeper posted his first clean sheet as a member of an NCAA Division II institution, doing so while not having to make a save. With the win he moves to 2-0 on the year.
 
Following an undefeated homestand to open the season, the Lakers will begin a two game road set as they head to Southern Wesleyan on Wednesday, September 11. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in Central, South Carolina.
 
NOTES
Clayton State is now 11-2-1 against Erskine since the first meeting on September 13, 1997 … not only is it the fifth shutout for them in program history, it continues a stretch of eight unbeaten that includes seven wins … that stretch began on September 15, 2010.