MORROW, Ga. – The top-seeded Clayton State University men's soccer team hosted the second-seeded Lander University Bearcats in the 2023 Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Men's Soccer Tournament Championship game on Sunday afternoon at Laker Field. 
 
The Lakers defeated Lander, 4-2, in double overtime to win the Championship for the first time since 2007, With this win, the Lakers are dancing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010. 
 
The first half saw both teams not crack the scoring column.  Both teams had a pair of opportunities, but most of the half was a possession battle.  The Lakers led that battle possessing the ball for 61% of the half.  Clayton State saw their best opportunity come in the 21^st minute.  After Wilfried Kamden was fouled in the box, Geo Rios saw his penalty shot sail over the net and the match remained in a 0-0 tie.
 
The Lakers outshot the Bearcats 8-4, but the two teams found themselves in a 0-0 tie going into the halftime break. 
 
Halftime: #1 Clayton State 0, #2 Lander 0
 
The second half was a scoring frenzy for both teams. It started about 40 seconds into the half as Lander grabbed the 1-0 lead.  The Lakers then scored the equalizer.  In the 52^nd minute and after a Laker attacker was fouled in the box, Wilfried Kamden converted a penalty kick opportunity and tied the match at one.  In the 57^th minute, the Bearcats were also awarded a penalty kick opportunity and they made the score, 2-1.  The Lakers were not done yet though.  In the 61^st minute, off a nice pass from Adrian Gallegos, John Michael Torres took a shot from the top of the box and bent the ball top-shelf for a goal.  The two teams were tied up at two. 
 
The two teams were tied at the end of 90 minutes, and they went into overtime. 
 
End of Regulation: #1 Clayton State 2, #2 Lander 2
 
In the first overtime period, the Lakers took full advantage.  In the first minute of overtime, Geo Rios fed Alexis Iturria going into the nearside corner of the box and finished for the go-ahead goal.  The Lakers made the score, 3-2.  After Lander went a man down, Clayton State was not finished just yet.  In the 95^th minute, Iturria found Vic Delgado Miller who put the ball into the back of the net for the goal.  The Lakers led 4-2. 
 
The Lakers did not allow a shot by Lander in overtime as they took down the Bearcats, 4-2 in two overtimes. 
 
A WORD FROM THE COACH
"It was one of the biggest games that Clayton State has played, and we have not been to the big dance for a decade plus," said Head Coach Pete Petersen. "We were down twice and for these guys to come back and go into overtime, was special.  Lander has been our rival for more than 40 years and last year, we knocked them out at our place and now here we are. Their coach, Dale, is a super guy and they battled. "
 
MATCH VITALS
Final: #1 Clayton State 4, #2 Lander 2 F/2OT
Records: #1 Clayton State; 15-3 | #2 Lander: 9-5-4
Location: Laker Field | Clayton State University | Morrow, Ga.
 
QUICK HITS

• The Lakers outshot Lander 17-11.
• Mauricio Uribe made three saves.
• Iturria scored his team-leading 13^th goal of the season.
• Kamden, Torres, and Delgado Miller also scored for the Lakers.
• Iturria, Gallegos, and Rios picked up assists.
• Torres was the Tournament MVP while Kamden, Andree Jimenez, and Iturria received all-tournament accolades. 
• 15 wins is the third most wins in school history.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers await their fate in the NCAA Tournament as the Selection Show will be live on NCAA.com on Monday, November 13^th at 7 p.m.
 
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