during the Lakers’ game against the Flagler Saints on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at Saints Field in Saint Augustine, Fla. / photo by Lorenzo Vasquez
Lorenzo Vasquez
2
North Georgia Hawks (5-0-3, 1-0-2)
2
Clayton St. Lakers (3-2-2, 1-1-1)
North Georgia Hawks
(5-0-3, 1-0-2)
2
Final
2
Clayton St. Lakers
(3-2-2, 1-1-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
North Georgia Hawks 1 1 2
Clayton St. Lakers 1 1 2

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

Amaral Converts a PK in the Final Minute as the Lakers and #2 Nighthawks End in a 2-2 Draw

MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State University men's soccer team played host to the #2 University of North Georgia Nighthawks on Wednesday evening.  Joao Amaral scored in the final minute of the match as the Lakers and Nighthawks finished the match tied at two. 
 
North Georgia controlled the possession most of the half as they possessed the ball 56% of the time. However, the Lakers took advantage of an early opportunity.  In the 12th minute, Miguel Goncalves received a long cross from Eric Cruz, and he went top-shelf for his first goal of the season.  The Lakers took a 1-0 lead.  That proved to be the only shot for the Lakers of the half.  The Nighthawks put the pressure on the Laker defense as they fired off nine shots.  The Nighthawks evened up the match in the 41st minute and made the score, 1-1. 
 
The Lakers and Nighthawks took a 1-1 score going into the halftime break. 
 
Halftime: #2 North Georgia 1, Clayton State 1
 
Laker keeper Kalle Kuisma faced a barrage of shots at the beginning of the second half as he made four saves in the first 15 minutes of the half.  During that stretch, Fabian Wagner attempted a couple of shots on goal.  The two teams fought back-and-forth until North Georgia took the lead in the 74th minute and made the score, 2-1.  The Lakers picked it up offensively after shots by Luis Ramirez, Camilo Velez, and Amaral.
 
The Lakers took it to the Nighthawks in the final moments of the match.  In the final minute of the match, The Lakers were granted a penalty kick after a hand ball in the box.  Amaral then fired the PK into the back of the net for the match tying goal. The Lakers and Nighthawks finished 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw. 
 
QUICK HITS
  • Both Goncalves and Amaral scored their first goals of the season. 
  • Cruz notched an assist.
  • Kuisma made seven saves in net for the Lakers.
  • North Georgia outshot the Lakers, 19-9 and the two teams combined for 33 fouls and seven cards. 
  • Amaral led the Lakers with three shots. 
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers (3-2-2 (1-1-1 PBC)) travel across to South Carolina to play Lander University on Saturday, September 19th at 7:30 p.m.  Please visit claytonstatesports.com for more information.
 
Be sure to follow Clayton State Athletics, "South Atlanta's College Team" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 
 
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