GAFFNEY, S.C. – The eight-seeded Clayton State University men's soccer team traveled to Limestone University and faced the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University in the First Round of the 2023 NCAA DII Men's Soccer Tournament on Thursday evening. The match ended with the Lakers winning in penalty kicks, 4-3, to advance to play the top-seeded Saints of Limestone University on Saturday evening.    

Lenoir-Rhyne put the early pressure on the Laker defense as Mauricio Uribe had to make three saves in the first 20 minutes of the match.  The score remained, 0-0.  The Lakers did not have much luck against the Bears defense throughout the half.  However, LR broke through with a score in the 42^nd minute and made the score, 1-0.  The Lenoir-Rhyne attacker crossed the ball from the far side corner of the box, which set up a header that found the back of the net.   

The score remained 1-0 going into the halftime break.   

Halftime: #9 Lenoir-Rhyne 1, #8 Clayton State 0 

In the second half, the Lakers started to turn up the heat offensively.  Isami Takeuchi, Alexis Iturria, and Wilfried Kamden all fired in shots within the first 10 minutes of the half.  The score still stood at 1-0.  Clayton State continued to pepper the Bear keeper with shots as Emmanuel Alerte and Iturria both had their chances late.  Then, the Lakers finally broke through with a score late in the half.  With their backs-up-against-the-wall and in the 89^th minute, the Bear keeper was forced out of the box.  After Christian Ransome passed the ball up, Gonzalo LaChica chips the ball over the keeper and into the net for a goal.  The score was tied, and the two teams were heading to overtime.   

End of Regulation: #8 Clayton State 1, #9 Lenoir-Rhyne 1 

 For the second straight match, the Lakers found themselves in overtime.  In the first overtime period, the Lakers outshot the Bears, 4-2, but was unable to find the back of the net.  In the second overtime, Kamden supplied the only shot for the Lakers, but it was blocked as the two teams decided the outcome of the match in penalty kicks.   

In PKs, Coach Pete Petersen decided to insert David Magala in net for Uribe. Both teams saw their first shots saved.  Then, the next five shots were put into the back of the net.  Ransome, Hector Fuentes, and Kamden made their PKs.  After Magala saved the next Bear shot making the score, 3-3, Robbie Christie fired a shot, and it was fired past the Bear keeper for the goal.   

The Lakers earned their first penalty shootout victory since 2018 as they beat Lenoir-Rhyne in a penalty shootout, 4-3.   

MATCH VITALS 

Final/PKs: #8 Clayton State 1 #9 Lenoir-Rhyne 1 (CSU advances on PKs, 4-3)) 

Records: #8 Clayton State: 15-3-1 | #9 Lenoir-Rhyne: 7-5-6 

Location: Bob Prevatte Athletic Complex | Limestone University | Gaffney, S.C. 

 QUICK HITS 

• The Lakers earned their first victory in the NCAA Tournament since 2010.  
• Gonzalo LaChica scored his fourth goal of the season.  
• Ransome picked up his first assist of the season and second of his career.  
• Iturria led the Lakers with five shots and broke the school record for the most shots in a single season.  This was record was held since Jason Nidiffer in 1995.  
• Uribe tied a season-high with eight saves.   
• The Lakers earned their second career PK shootout victory of the NCAA Tournament 
  • First came in 2004 when they defeated Queens (N.C.) in the first round.     

WHAT'S NEXT?  

The Lakers continue play in the 2023 NCAA DII Men's Soccer Tournament as they face the top-seeded and #14 Limestone University Saints on Saturday, November 18^th.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.  The winner of that game faces the winner of Barry University and Lincoln Memorial University.   

All-time, the Lakers and Saints both have won four matches apiece.  The last time the two teams faced off was back in 2018 when Limestone won, 3-0. The Lakers have not beaten Limestone since 2013 and have lost three straight matches.     

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