David Magala
Abijah Wilcox
David Magala saved the first shot of the PK shootout to Lift the Lakers over the Valkyries
1
Clayton St. LAKERS (12-3-4, 8-1-1)
1
Converse CON (9-1-9, 6-0-6)
Clayton St. LAKERS
(12-3-4, 8-1-1)
1
Final
1
Converse CON
(9-1-9, 6-0-6)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 OT 3 F
Clayton St. LAKERS 0 1 0 0 0 1
Converse CON 1 0 0 0 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Sam Viebrock, Assistant AD of Communication, samuelviebrock@clayton.edu

Survive and Advance!! Men's Soccer Advances to the Sweet 16 after Defeating Converse in a Penalty Shootout

Alexis Iturria scored the match-tying goal with 17 seconds left in regulation to send the match to overtime

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The fourth-seeded Clayton State University men's soccer team traveled to play the fifth-seeded Valkyries of Converse University in the Second Round of the 2024 NCAA DII Men's Soccer Tournament on Sunday afternoon.  Alexis Iturria scored the match-tying goal with 17 seconds left to force overtime and the Lakers eventually won the match in penalty kicks, 5-4.  
 
The first quarter was dominated by Converse, and they wasted no time on getting on the scoreboard as they took the lead on a goal in the 6th minute making the score, 1-0.  Maricio Uribe was rock solid the rest of the half despite five more Valkyrie shots. The Lakers did not apply much pressure until the late stages of the half.  The best opportunity came in the 34th minute when Iturria's shot was saved by the Converse keeper. 
 
Jussi Gerberding and Aaron Diaz all notched shots down the stretch but the score remained, 1-0, after the first 45 minutes. 
 
Halftime: #5 Converse 1, #4 Clayton State 0
 
The second half was played a little bit more even possession wise but the aggression both sides was turned up.  Uribe was solid in the half as he made seven saves on nine shots faced.  The Lakers saw its first opportunity come at the 68th minute mark but Alex Rodriguez's shot sailed out to the left of the net.  The score remained, 1-0.  The Lakers had their backs up against the wall as they went on a man down in the 84th minute but Converse also saw themselves a man down after a red 30 seconds later.  Both teams had to play the final six minutes of regulation a man down. 
 
Othmane Chagour and Camilo Velez notched shots in the final five minutes but were unable to find the back of the net.  However, with the time ticking down, Iturria received the ball from Rodriguez and found the back of the net with 17 seconds left to knot up the match at one a side.  This came after Velez put one on net and it was unable to be cleared by the Converse defense.  The two teams were tied at one at the end of regulation to force overtime. 
 
End of Regulation: #4 Clayton State 1, #5 Converse 1
 
The Lakers had the best opportunity to score in the first overtime period.  In the 93rd minute, Iturria was streaking down the far side, entered the box and fired a shot at the Converse keeper but he made an excellent stop keeping the score at 1-1.  The two teams could not break the tie and proceeded to go to another overtime period. It was Converse who had the upper hand in possession in the second overtime period and who also had the best opportunity to score.  In the 107th minute, a Valkyrie attacker was streaking down the far side and his shot was kicked away by Uribe and that forced a penalty shootout. 
 
In the penalty shootout, Uribe gave away to David Magala who was the keeper in the PK shootout in last season's NCAA Tournament game against Lenoir-Rhyne.  In the shootout, Magala stopped the first shot by Converse, and it was the Lakers' turn.  Alex Rodriguez then sent his shot into the back of the net and the Lakers led, 1-0.  The two teams then went back and forth, and the score read 4-4 after each player made their kicks.  Iturria, Vic Delgado Miller, and Aaron Diaz made their kicks for Clayton State.  It all came down to Chagour to send the Lakers to the Sweet 16.  Othmane's shot went past the Converse keeper and the Lakers earned the 5-4 victory in the shootout. 
 
QUICK HITS
  • Iturria scored his sixth goal of the season and Rodriguez notched his seventh assist. 
  • Uribe made eight saves in net and played all 110 minutes.
  • Alexis led the Lakers with four shots while Velez followed with three. 
  • The Lakers were outshot, 17-14.
  • The two teams combined for 11 yellow cards, four red cards, and 39 fouls.
  • The Lakers advance to their first Sweet 16 since 2010 and their second overall. 
  • The Lakers have won at least one game in the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons. 
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The #4 Lakers (12-3-4) travel to Gaffney, S.C. to face the top-seeded Saints of Limestone University on Sunday, December 1st.  The time has yet to be determined.  The Lakers are looking for revenge after Limestone sent Clayton State home after a 2-0 loss in the Round of 32.  Please visit claytonstatesports.com for most updated information. 
 
Be sure to follow Clayton State Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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