SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The three-seeded Clayton State University men's soccer team faced the second-seeded Flagler College Saints in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Semifinals at Saints Field on a sunny, Sunday afternoon. The Saints shutout the Lakers, 3-0.
Early in the first half, both teams had their fair number of opportunities. The Lakers had the best chance to score early on. In the 11
th minute,
Langston Blackstock and
Geo Rios both put shots on frame, but they were stonewalled by the Saint keeper Tirso Trueba, who was selected as the PBC Defensive Player of the Year. Two teams were deadlocked at zero until the Saints drew first blood in the 20
th minute and made the score, 1-0, Flagler. The Lakers then had a good chance to score as they forced Trueba out of the net, but
Isaac Pimenta's shot was blocked in front of the net by a Flagler defender. The Saints continued to lead, 1-0.
The Saints outshot the Lakers, 8-6, as Flagler took a 1-0 lead going into the break. Rios led the Lakers with three shots.
Halftime: Flagler 1, Clayton State 0
The Lakers looked to even the score early in the second half as they pressured the Saint keeper. Rios notched a pair of shots on frame. Youkendjy Pacius had the best opportunity in the 53
rd minute, but his header was smothered by Trueba. In most of the half, both teams traded possessions, played very aggressively, and tallied a flurry of shots. In the 74
th minute, the Lakers saw Pimenta put the ball on net, but it was again saved by the Flagler keeper and the Saints still lead, 1-0. The Saints then extended their lead in the 77
th minute off a nice set-piece. Flagler led, 2-0.
Flagler added a late goal in the 89
th minute extending their lead to, 3-0. The Saints used timely offense and good defense as they shutout the Lakers, 3-0, to advance to the PBC Tournament Championship against Lander University on November 6
th.
QUICK HITS
Final: Flagler 3, Clayton State 0
Records: Flagler: 10-3-3 | Clayton State: 10-5-4
Location: Saints Field | Flagler College | Saint Augustine, Fla.
QUICK HITS
- Rios led the Lakers with five shots while Blackstock followed with two shots.
- Hector Fuentes notched the other shot for the Lakers.
- David Magala made a pair of saves.
- Flagler edged the Lakers in shots, 14-13.
- This loss breaks a nine-match point streak for Clayton State.
- The Lakers have not been shutout since they lost to Lander, 1-0, on September 21st.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers will learn their postseason fate as the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Selection Show is set for Monday, November 7
th at 6 p.m. The show will be live on NCAA.com.
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