Lakers Take Peach Belt Home Opener, 3-1

Lakers Take Peach Belt Home Opener, 3-1

AMERICUS, Ga. -- All goals were scored in the first half as Clayton State took a 3-1 Peach Belt Conference win over the Georgia Southwestern women's soccer team Wednesday night. Already down 2-0, senior Brenna Mendonca cut the score in half with a long goal in the 32nd minute as Clayton State was still leading. With 13 seconds left in the first half, the Lakers got a quick score to go up, 3-1, right before halftime for the final score. 

Alison Rugel, who currently leads GSW with five assists this season, was gifted with a free kick after a Laker foul. She quickly passed Mendonca the ball, who took a long shot right into the goalie face for her first goal of the season. 

Clayton State jumped ahead early as they scored 1:45 minutes into the game with a Pia Haug header into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. In the 17th minute, Mandy Baquerizo was credited with a penalty kick, which was blocked by Hannah Morrone. Unfortunately, Morrone couldn't fully catch the ball and it slid out as Baquerizo quickly came up for an easy 2-0 lead. Isabel Massa added insurance for the Clayton's (4-1, 1-0 PBC) first PBC win of the season. 

GSW (3-4-1, 0-2 PBC) was outshot, 28-9, by a powerful Clayton State, as they also led with more shots on goal (12-4) than GSW. The Lady Hurricanes were led by Rugel, who had four shots, two on goal and one assist. Morrone picked up nine saves on the night while the Lakers only had three. 

Up Next: The Lady Hurricanes will stay home to host Georgia College for Family Day on Saturday, Oct. 5th for a 5 p.m. match start.