MORROW, Ga. – The No. 16 Clayton State University men's soccer team opened its 2024 season on a high note as they defeated Converse University, 4-2, on Laker Field on Thursday evening.
 
The Lakers and the Valkyries played a possession battle in the first 20 minutes of the match but the Lakers broke through first. In the 21^st minute, Alexis Iturria crossed the ball to the opposite post and found Gonzalo LaChica who scored his first goal of the season making the score, 1-0.  That was the lone goal of the half as neither team put many shots on net as they combined for six shots in the half. 
 
Halftime: #16 Clayton State 1, Converse 0
 
The heat was turned up in the second half.  In the 48^th minute, Alex Rodriguez took a shot that re-directed to Andree Jimenez, who came on as a second half sub, and scored his first goal of the season and made the score, 2-0.  The Lakers were not finished yet.  In his first shot of his career, in the 58^th minute, Camilo Velez went top shelf for his first goal of the season and extended the Laker lead to 3-0.  The Valkyries would not quite as they scored goals in the 74^th and in the 82^nd minute to cut the Clayton State lead to one at 3-2. 
 
Converse had the Lakers on the ropes again in the 84^th minute as they sent in a shot that found the back of the net but was waved off due to an offsides call.  The Lakers still led 3-2.  Clayton State added some insurance in the 86^th minute when Aaron Diaz's free kick rung the cash register for his first goal of the season.  Clayton State took a 4-2 lead. 
 
Head Coach Pete Petersen won his 200^th career victory as the Laker head coach as his squad held on to down Converse, 4-2. 

With tonight's 4-2 victory, coach Pete Petersen earned his 200th career victory! Congrats Coach! #LochIn pic.twitter.com/ahGXbmcRuq

— Clayton State Athletics (@CSULakers) September 6, 2024

 
QUICK HITS

• Both teams took 10 shots a side. 
• Iturria and LaChica led the Lakers with a pair of shots.
• Iturria notched a pair of assists. 
• Velez scored his first career Laker goal.
• David Magala started in net and made five saves. 

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers stay at home as they host Francis Marion at Laker Field on Saturday, September 7^th at 3 p.m. Francis Marion came up short in the first game of the Laker Loch-In Classic losing to North Georgia, 3-2.  Please visit claytonstatesports.com for the live links for Saturday's match. 
 
Be sure to follow Clayton State Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.