NEED TO KNOW:
Score:  Clayton State 4 – Flagler 1
Records: Lakers (2-2-0, 2-2-0 PBC) – Saints (0-2-1, 0-2-1 PBC)
Series History: Flagler Leads 10-7-1
 
 
MORROW, Ga. – Langston Blackstock scored two goals while Geo Rios dished out two assists and scored a goal as the Clayton State men's soccer team defeated Flagler 4-1 on a warm and sunny Sunday.
 
Rios' two assist pushed him to a Peach Belt Conference high five for the season while Blackstock is now tied for first in the league with two goals.
 
Blackstock scored the game's first goal in the 13^th minute with an assist from Rios. A Flagler (0-2-1, 0-2-1 PBC) foul set the Lakers (2-2-0, 2-2-0 PBC) up for a quality offensive possession as the captain Rios would take the free kick.
 
The Lawrenceville, Ga. native chipped the ball to the left of the goal, finding a wide open Blackstock who beat the keeper with a one-time touch.
 
Both teams would continue to battle and had opportunities to score, but the Lakers held the advantage until Blackstock delivered a strike in the 42^nd to put Clayton State ahead 2-0.
 
Controlling the ball on the right-side of the field, Alexis Iturria found Blackstock on the opposite side of the pitch. Blackstock was able to deke past his defender and again beat the keeper to the right for his second goal of the game.
 
The Lakers led 2-0 at halftime. Iturria finished with a game-high eight shots, four being on goal. 
 
Despite the score, the game was a close affair. Clayton State finished with 18 shots, nine on goal, while Flagler had 16 shots, eight being on target.
 
Each team opened the second half with a pair of shots before the Lakers struck again. As the Saints were trying to get an offensive strike going, Mitro Turunen was able to steal the ball and find Rios.
 
After a pair of Flagler defenders took themselves out of the play, Rios dribbled the ball to space, beat his defender and found a waiting Turunen who pounded the ball home for the third goal of the game.
 
Down 3-0, Flagler remained in the game and was awarded its best chance to get on the scoreboard after a penalty was called on the Lakers inside the box.
 
Theo Blachon saved the initial attempt with a brilliant diving save, but Flagler was awarded another attempt after the referees said the senior keeper stepped off his line to soon. The Saints would convert the second attempt.
 
Blachon made seven saves in the win.
 
Despite cutting the deficit to two goals, Flagler was unable to get another as time dwindled down.
 
With under a minute left to play, Isaac Pimenta found Christian Ransome who played a beautiful ball to Rios. Rios was able to sneak by his defenders and beat the keeper to score the final goal of the game.
 
 
COMING UP:
- Clayton State is scheduled to host USC Aiken on Thursday for a 3:30 p.m. matchup.

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