Women's Soccer | September 4, 2024

MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State University Women's Soccer team kicks off their 2024 season on Thursday afternoon.
 
A LOOK BACK
The Lakers finished the 2023 season with a record of 7-7-4 and reached the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament for the 12^th straight season.  The Lakers also saw a pair of All-Conference selections and an all-region mention.  In addition, Coach Henderson saw nine of his ladies' garner PBC Team of Academic Distinction honors and four College Sports Communicators (CSC) All-District honors. 
 
OPENING WEEKEND
The Lakers kick off their season on Thursday afternoon as they travel to Cleveland, Mississippi, to play Delta State at 1:30 p.m. Clayton State then travels to Montgomery, Ala. to face the Warhawks of Auburn-Montgomery on Sunday, September 8^th at 1 p.m. Clayton State then opens at home on Friday, September 13^th as they host West Alabama at 5 p.m.  Last season, the Lakers defeated all three opponents. 
 
IMPACT PLAYERS
The Lakers are led by their All-Region and First-Team All-Conference honoree Amiah Sprunger-Hightower.  A native of Westfield, Ind., Amiah had a great season in 2023.  Amiah, who earned USC and D2CCA Southeast Region and first-team All-PBC honors, scored 15 goals and added six assists. Her 15 goals were good for the conference lead and were good for tied for 11^th in the nation.  To end the season, Sprunger-Hightower scored at least one goal in her final eight matches.  In general, Amiah has notched four multi-goal efforts.  The Laker forward also led the Lakers in points (36), shots (57), and shots on frame (36).  Amiah was selected as a PBC Preseason All-Conference selection last season as well. 
 
The Lakers also returned Chloe Flannaghan, who also earned All-Conference last season.  A native of Whitley Bay, England, Flannaghan earned her first All-PBC mention.  Chloe was third for third on the team with four goals and four assists.  In her match against Albany State, Flannaghan scored two goals and added a pair of assists.  This was here only multi-point and multi-goal effort of the season.  Chloe added 18 shots, 12 points, and one match-winning goal.   She was also a very key component to the Laker offensive unit that scored 34 goals on the season, which is the most goals scored in a season since 2015. 
 
 Also returning for the Lakers is Carrie Consolino, Daniela Gularte, Julia Hasenez, and Trinity Chastain.  Carrie scored six goals and added a pair of assists on 47 shots last season.  Gularte and Hasenez return on the Laker backline as key part of the team last season as the defense that pitched five shutouts.  Chastain is the lone goalkeeper returning for the Lakers as she played in seven matches and made 16 saves.  Trinity has made 86 saves in two seasons for Coach Henderson. 
 
NEWCOMERS
Coach Henderson has brought in a group of talented newcomers for the 2024 season.  The group is headlined by Laila Roberson, Leah Agrell, Elza Kovy, and Gabriela Martinez Alesci.  All four of those newcomers are coming in as true freshman and Henderson is looking for those players to make an immediate impact on his team.  Other newcomers include Dayla Ayada, Lovisa Peliot, Smilla Rosenborg, Vanesa Herrera Cano, Cami Nunn, Hanna Karlsson, Madilyn Stark, and Tuva Etterlid.  This class features newcomers that hail from five different countries and three different states. 
 
COACHES
Leading the Lakers in his third season is Ross Henderson.  He is joined by assistant coach Isa Massa and Ludvig Rhodin.  Massa is in her third season while Rhodin is in his second season coaching the goalkeepers. 
 
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