MORROW, GA --- For the second consecutive year, Clayton State’s Alex Dowling was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America team. 

Dowling, the 2005 team captain, was named to the All-America squad again after leading Clayton State’s defense to a .77 goals against average this season, which ranked among the nation’s best. He also scored three goals on the year. Clayton State’s defense posted nine shutouts on the season and allowed only six goals in its last 11 matches.  

Morrow, GA - (Nov. 13, 2005) – Chiddy Mgbor’s missile of a shot from 30 yards out was the difference Sunday, lifting Lander to a 1-0 victory over eighth-ranked Clayton State in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Soccer Championships.  

Mgbor’s game-winner, his fourth goal of the season, came in the 37^th-minute and was perfectly placed in the upper right of the net and just past the outstretched arms of Clayton State keeper Heath Padgett.  

The offensive standout for Lander was Mgbor, but on the defensive side, the Bearcats had a heroic effort from goalie Garrett Daum, who finished with six saves, including a number of sparkling stops.  

His first big stop came on a penalty kick save, stopping an attempt by Clayton State’s Todd Denson in the 32:59 minute. The opportunity came after the Lakers’ Tonny Madegwa was tripped from behind on goal scoring opportunity in the box area.  

With less than 21 minutes remaining, Daum came up with another sensational save, flicking away a shot by Clayton State’s Alasan Jahumpa that was fired from 25 yards out and headed for the upper left of the goal. He later saved a header from point blank range by Clayton State’s Juan Trujillo with 10:41 remaining.  

The win improves Lander to 11-4-4 on the season and propels the Bearcats to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Soccer Championships next week against the South Region’s Lynn University. Clayton State, the 2005 Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament champions, ends its season with a 13-4-4 record.  

Clayton State out-shot the Bearcats 12-7 and had seven shots on goal compared to Lander’s two on goal. The Lakers also finished with seven corner kicks to none for the Bearcats.  

The Lander win gives the Bearcats a 7-4-1 record against Clayton State. The two teams battled to a 1-1 double overtime draw during the 2005 regular season.

Morrow, GA --- Two 1-0 victories at Laker Field put an exclamation point on “Showdown Saturday” and made for an historic day in Clayton State Soccer. 

Both the men’s and women’s and soccer teams captured the 2005 Peach Belt Conference Championship crowns with wins over conference opponent USC Upstate, the first time in Peach Belt history that the same school has won both the men’s and women’s soccer championships in the same year. 

The Laker women’s victory gave Clayton State a share of the PBC title with Columbus State, who also won on Saturday, while the men’s victory over USC Upstate gave the Lakers the title outright over the Spartans. The Peach Belt title for the women’s team is the first in program history, and the championship for the men is the second with the first title coming in 2001. 

With the win, Clayton State’s men’s squad will host the 2005 Peach Belt Conference semifinals and finals next weekend, as the conference’s top seed. Clayton State improves to 11-3-4 on the year and 5-0-1 in the league. The Lakers will receive a first round in the tournament, returning to the field on Saturday for the semifinals. USC Upstate drops to 11-2-2 overall and 3-1-2 in the league with the loss. The Spartans will return to action on Wednesday, hosting a match in the first round of the PBC Tournament. 

Clayton State’s women’s team improves to 12-2-2 and 6-1-1 on the year and will return to action on Tuesday, hosting a first round Peach Belt match, as the second seed from the conference. Columbus State will enter the tourney as the top seed, since the Cougars won the regular match between the two schools. Upstate falls to 4-12-1 overall and 2-6 in the league. The Spartans will return to action on Tuesday, traveling for a first round Peach Belt Tournament match. 

After a scoreless first half in the women’s match, Clayton State broke the deadlock early in the second period with a goal by Nkese Udoh, her 15^th of the year in the 50^th minute. The score came off a pass from Olaitan Yusuf that crossed through the box, setting up Udoh for a shot in the lower right of the net. 

Clayton State held on for the remainder of the match to pull out the victory. The Lakers controlled much of the match, outshooting Upstate 14-3 and led 3-0 in corner kicks. Clayton State keeper Judith Chime recorded her ninth shutout of the season, with three saves for the Lakers, while Upstate’s Diana Wabnitz had five saves. 

In the men’s match, 13^th-ranked Clayton State scored in the 33^rd minute and held off a number of scoring threats by fifth-ranked USC Upstate to pull out the victory.  

Clayton State’s Kevin Crooks scored the game winner, taking a pass from Scott LerClerc. Crooks beat Spartan keeper Ryan Cooper with a shot in the bottom right of the net from 13 yards out. 

The match was not without controversy in the final 30 seconds, as Upstate’s Liam Slack appeared to score the game-tying goal with a shot in the lower left of the net from inside the Clayton State box, but he was whistled for offsides, securing the victory for Clayton State. 

USC Upstate out-shot Clayton State 11-3 in the match only to be denied by Clayton State keeper Heath Padgett and the Laker defense on several occasions. The Spartans’ Troy Simon had the best chance to score in the first half only to have Padgett come up with a diving save, and in the second half, Chris Baretta had a shot from point blank range after some confusion in the Laker box, but once again, Padgett came up with a big stop. 

Padgett finished with five saves for the Lakers and recorded his fifth solo shutout, while Ryan Cooper had one save for the Spartans. Upstate finished with six corner kicks compared to only one for the Lakers.

Clayton State soccer teams to host USC Upstate on Saturday with PBC titles on the line 

Morrow, GA — October 27, 2005 --- It will be “Showdown” Saturday for the Clayton State University men’s and women’s soccer teams this weekend at Laker Field.  

Clayton State will host its biggest soccer doubleheader in school history on Saturday, facing off against Peach Belt Conference opponent USC Upstate. Both the men’s and women’s teams will capture Peach Belt Conference Championships with wins on Saturday.  

Kickoff for Saturday’s Senior Day games will be 4:30 p.m. for the women and 7 p.m. for the men. General Admission is $5 and children 12-under are free.  Faculty, Staff, Students are free with their Laker Card. Clayton State will honor its senior soccer players between games.  

Clayton State’s women’s squad will enter the match with an 11-2-2 record and is coming off a 5-0 victory over over North Greenville on Wednesday. Olaitan Yusuf and Nkese Udoh each scored two goals in the victory, giving them 16 and 14 goals, respectively. Yusuf leads the Peach Belt in scoring, followed by Udoh in second.  

The Clayton State women’s team will win at least a share of the 2005 title with a win. There are also several other scenarios that could lead to the Lakers winning the championship outright based on how PBC co-leader Columbus State fares with Lander on Saturday.  

Clayton State’s Saturday opponent, USC Upstate, enters with a 4-11-2 record and a 2-5 mark in the Peach Belt. The Spartans are having an off year after placing second in the league last year and being picked as conference champion in the 2005 preseason poll.  

On the men’s side, the 13^th-ranked Lakers will enter the match with a 10-3-4 record, squaring off against the nation’s fifth-ranked team in USC Upstate with an 11-1-2 mark. Clayton State sits atop the Peach Belt standings with a 4-0-1 record in the league, followed by USC Upstate at 3-0-2. The Lakers will win their second Peach Belt title in the last five years with either a victory or tie against the Spartans.  

Clayton State is coming off an impressive 9-0 victory Wednesday over North Greenville, which tied a school record for goals scored and margin of victory in a match. Clayton State had a trio of players score two goals in the win with Juan Trujillo, Tony Madegwa and Kevin Crooks providing the offensive firepower.  

Clayton State men’s soccer downs Francis Marion 3-1 takes over top spot in Peach Belt standings 

Florence, SC --- The Clayton State University men’s soccer team took another step toward a Peach Belt Conference Championship Sunday, defeating Francis Marion University 3-1 in Florence, SC.  

Junior forward Tonny Madegwa scored a pair of second-half goals and assisted on a third goal to rally 16th-ranked Clayton State to the victory. 

Clayton State took over the top spot in the league standings, remaining unbeaten in the PBC at 4-0-1, while improving to 9-3-4 overall. The Lakers have one more regular season Peach Belt game remaining next Saturday, hosting USC Upstate for Senior Day. A win or tie against Upstate would win the league for the squad.  

The upset-minded Patriots took a 1-0 lead at the 9:11 mark when freshman Matt Harris received a cross in the box and scored on a 6-yard shot.  Jonathan Bartomioli and Valentine Baker assisted on the score. 

Francis Marion retained its one-goal advantage until halftime despite being outshot 10-2 in the opening 45 minutes. 

Clayton State quickly tied the match 1-1 when Kevin Crooks scored on a 17-yard blast only 30 seconds into the second stanza.  Madegwa fed Crooks for the tying score. 

Madegwa put the Lakers ahead in the 59th minute when he took a pass from Johnny Lara and connected on a 12-yard shot.  Madegwa’s second goal came on 10-yard shot after he made an amazing reception of a pass from Todd Denson, went down the right sideline and then shifted to the middle of the field.  Madegwa entered the match having scored only once in his team’s opening 15 contests. 

For the match, Clayton State outshot Francis Marion 20-5 and led 6-2 in corner kicks.  Laker goalkeeper Heath Padgett made one save en route to the win. FMU senior goalkeeper Jonathan Runion recorded 10 saves.  

Clayton State men’s soccer returns to 
NSCAA rankings at 16^th in nation 

Morrow, GA --- October 19, 2005 --- The Clayton State University men’s soccer team returned to the top-25 of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll Tuesday, coming back in at 16^th in the nation. 

Clayton State returned to the national poll thanks to a 3-1 win last week over then 12^th-ranked UNC Pembroke on homecoming. The Lakers are coming off another Peach Belt Conference match against a ranked opponent, as the squad battled to a 1-1 tie against 21^st ranked Lander Tuesday. 

The Lakers rose as high as sixth in the country earlier this year in the NSCAA poll until stumbling after several key injuries and dropping out of the poll for a week. Along with Clayton State and Lander, USC Upstate, ranked sixth, also represents the PBC in the national poll. 

CSU is 8-3-4 on the season and 3-0-1 in Peach Belt play, gunning for its second Peach Belt Conference Championship in the last five years. The Lakers are battling for the top sport along with USC Upstate and Lander, who also remain undefeated in conference play. 

Clayton State will return to action on Sunday, traveling to play PBC foe Francis Marion. The Lakers will close the regular season with two home matches next week, hosting North Greenville in a non-conference match on Wednesday, October 26^th before hosting Upstate on Saturday, October 29 for Senior Day.

GREENWOOD, SC – Both the Clayton State University men’s and women’s soccer teams battled to ties Tuesday in Peach Belt Conference soccer action against Lander University.  

The No. 16 Clayton State men and No. 21 Lander each scored its goals early and settled for a 1-1 tie in a crucial Peach Belt match, while the women’s squad battled the Bearcats to a scoreless tie.  

In the men’s match, both teams remain unbeaten in the conference with Clayton State’s record at 8-3-4 (3-0-1 Peach Belt) while the Bearcats are 8-2-3 (2-0-2). 

Lander opened the scoring at the 19:35 mark when Luke Ibbetson scored his conference-leading 17th goal off an assist by Chiddy Mgbor. 

One minute later, Lander was whistled for tripping in the box. Clayton State senior defender Alex Dowling tied the match by nailing the penalty kick past Bearcats goalkeeper Garrett Daum. 

The Lakers outshot Lander 13-8 and had a 5-3 edge in corner kicks. Daum had seven saves for Lander while Heath Padgett had two stops for Clayton State. 

In the women’s match, both teams settled for a tie giving the women’s team a 9-2-1 overall mark and a 4-1-1 record in the league. Lander is now 5-7-2 overall and 2-1-2 in the PBC. Clayton State is 9-2-1, 4-1-1.

Both teams had several scoring opportunities with the Lakers taking 17 shots to Lander’s 10. Lander’s Rachael Hine had six saves while Clayton’s Judith Chime had two stops. The Lakers had a 7-5 edge in corner kicks.

Clayton State men down #12 UNC Pembroke 3-1 on Homecoming; to face Lander Tues. 

Morrow, GA — October 15, 2005 --- The Clayton State University men’s soccer team picked up a pivotal Peach Belt Conference victory Saturday, defeating 12^th-ranked UNC Pembroke 3-1 on Homecoming at Laker Field.  

The Lakers raced out to an early lead as senior captain Alex Dowling headed in a cross from sophomore Jarrid Nicholson in the upper right of the goal in sixth minute of the match.  

After neither team was able to find the back of the net for the remainder of the first half, Clayton State headed in another goal early in the second half, giving the squad a 2-0 advantage. This time senior Victor Duncan headed in a shot, his team-leading sixth goal of the season, off a pass from junior Tonny Madegwa.  

Clayton State added a little insurance in the 85^th minute as senior Juan Trujillo scored off a deflected shot from junior Kevin Crooks. UNC Pembroke cut the deficit to 3-1 in the final two minutes of the match with a goal from Tuncay Dilek. His goal came off a CSU keeper Heath Padgett deflection off a shot from Trond Myrland.  

With the win, the Lakers improve to 8-3-3 on the year and 3-0 in the Peach Belt, while UNC Pembroke drops to 8-3-3 on the year and 0-1-3 in the league. Clayton State will return action on Tuesday for another PBC match, traveling to face Lander in a match that was postponed earlier this year. UNCP plays at Queens on Tuesday.  

Clayton State blanks Shorter 5-0 Friday; to play at Lees-McRae Wed. 

ROME, GA – September 30, 2005 --- Freshman Johnny Lara scored two goals and dished off an assist to lead the sixth-ranked Clayton State University men’s soccer team to a 5-0 non-conference victory Friday over Shorter College in Rome, GA. 

Clayton State jumped out to an early lead in the 25^th minute with Lara scoring his first goal of the match off an assist from junior forward Kevin Crooks. The Lakers extended their lead to 2-0 before halftime at the 39^th minute on a goal by senior Juan Trujillo, assisted by Lara.  

After more than 35 minutes of scoreless play in the second half, Clayton State exploded for a trio of goals in a three-minute span late in the contest. Lara scored his second goal of the match at the 80^th minute off an assist from freshman Miguel Pinzon, followed by Pinzon scoring a goal of his own two minutes later off an assist from Trujillo. Sophomore Jarrid Nicholson added the final goal in the 83^rd minute off an assist from Pinzon.  

With the win, the Lakers to 7-2-3 on the season and will return to action on Wednesday, traveling to face NCAA Division II Southeast Region opponent Lees-McRae in Banner Elk, NC.  

Montevallo, AL --- September 28, 2005 --- The 12th-ranked Clayton State University men’s soccer team battled the University of Montevallo to a double overtime scoreless tie Wednesday in a non-conference NCAA Division II match in Montevallo, AL.

 Both teams had opportunities in the match with Clayton State’s best chance coming in the second overtime as freshman Miguel Pinzon broke away and had a clean shot on goal only to be turned away by Montevallo keeper Raveen Keet. 

Clayton State finished with the match with 12 shots, five on goals, while Montevallo had 18 shots, six on goal. Sophomore Daniel English, substituting for Heath Padgett in goal, recorded his first shutout of his career with six saves. 

The tie gives the Lakers a 6-2-3 record on the season, while Montevallo stands at 4-2-2. The CSU will return to action on Friday, traveling to face Shorter College in Rome, GA for a 7:30 p.m. match.

 ##CSU##

#6 Clayton State drops a heartbreaker 2-1 
to #9 Tusculum at the buzzer of 1^st overtime

Greeneville, TN --- September 21, 2005 --- Without its All-Peach Belt Conference keeper and All-America forward, the 6th-ranked Clayton State University men’s soccer team lost a heartbreaker in the final second of the first overtime at 9th-ranked Tusculum College Wednesday. 

Tusculum’s Dave Bailey scored the game winner at the buzzer on a breakaway to lift the Pioneers to a 2-1 victory over the Lakers. 

Midway through Wednesday’s NCAA Division II match, a betting man would not have put his savings on the Lakers chances. Opening the second half, without keeper Heath Padgett, who was knocked out in a collision in the box, and without forward Juan Trujillo, who was sidelined with a caution, plus the fact, the squad was playing on road against one of the nation’s top-10 teams, things could have been better. 

But the Lakers battled through the adversity and came close to pulling out at least a tie until Bailey’s heroic goal. 

With the loss, the Lakers fall to 5-2-2 on the season, while Tusculum improves to 6-2 on the season. The Lakers will return to action on Saturday, traveling to face Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of South Carolina Aiken in a 3:30 p.m. match. 

The match remained scoreless for the first 60 minutes of play until Tusculum got on the scoreboard in the 61^st minute scoring on an “own” goal. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Lakers answered minutes later off a corner kick. Junior Andre Rall knotted the match at 1-1 in the 64^th minute, heading in a shot off a cross from freshman Aaron Baker. The goal was Rall’s second of the season. 

Clayton State controlled the first half of play, outshooting the Pioneers 6-3 before Tusculum came back in the second with four shots compared to the Lakers one. Sophomore defenseman Daniel English filled in for Padgett in goal and had two saves for the Lakers, while TC’s Jose Juarez had three saves for the Pioneers.

##CCSU##

Morrow, GA --- September 20, 2005 --- Clayton State University’s men’s and women’s soccer teams continued their climb up the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll Tuesday, moving up to sixth and eighth in the country, respectively. 

Both teams moved up the rankings with two straight wins, the Laker men moved to 6^th from ninth last week after a 4-0 win over Pfeiffer and a 5-2 victory over Peach Belt Conference foe North Georgia College & State University. The women’s squad climbed to a program-best eighth from 10th after a 4-1 win over North Georgia and a 5-0 win over Erskine. 

Clayton State’s men’s team is 5-1-2 on the season and will embark on a six-game road trip on Wednesday, traveling to face ninth-ranked Tusculum College (5-1) at 4 p.m. The Lakers will enter the match on a two-game winning streak, while the Pioneers are coming off a 1-0 loss to Peach Belt Conference school the University of North Carolina Pembroke. 

The Laker women, off to a program-best 5-1 start, will return to action on Saturday, traveling with the men’s team to face PBC foe the University of South Carolina Aiken. The women’s match will begin at 1 p.m., followed by the men’s match 3:30 p.m. 

The sixth place ranking for the Clayton State men’s squad is second highest ranking in the program’s history, as the team rose to fourth in the nation in the 2002 season. Along with the Clayton State men, two other PBC schools are in the NSCAA poll with the University of South Carolina Upstate at 20^th and Lander University 25^th.  

Clayton State’s women’s squad is the only PBC team in the top-25 with UNCP receiving votes for the poll.

Dowling scored a trio of goals in Clayton State’s 5-2 victory over North Georgia College & State University in the Lakers Peach Belt Conference opener against the Saints at Laker Field. 

With the win, the ninth-ranked Lakers improve to 5-1-2 and 1-0 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Lakers will return to action on Wednesday, starting a six-game road trip. The Lakers will open the trip with a match against #2 Tusculum College at 4 p.m. North Georgia drops to 2-3-1 on the season and 0-2 in the Peach Belt. 

North Georgia jumped out to an early 1-0 lead 29 minutes into the match, as Sheldon Best slid a shot in the upper left of the net from eight yards out past CSU’s diving keeper Heath Padgett. The play was set-up off a pass from Drew Prentice. 

Clayton State answered, however, capitalizing on two straight fouls in the North Georgia box area, setting up two pen kicks. Dowling did the honors on both, the first one at the 36^th minute, followed by another one three minutes at the 39^th minute. The Lakers led 2-1 at intermission. 

CSU extended its lead to 3-1 in the first minute of the second half, after Juan Trujillo broke through the defense, passed off to Kevin Crooks and then took a return pass from Crooks, drilling a shot in the lower left of the net from 18 yards out. 

The Lakers added another goal at the 54^th minute when Johnny Lara slid a shot past North Georgia keeper Vince Neal from seven yards out. The play was set up after two quick passes from Pa’Alasan Jahumpa and Tonny Madegwa. 

North Georgia cut the deficit 4-2 in the 57^th minute on a penalty kick by Rene Alvarez after a handball in the Clayton State box. Dowling gave the Lakers a little insurance in the 70^th minute, scoring his third goal of the match on header after a cross from Jarrid Nicholson. 

Morrow, GA — September 14, 2005 --- The ninth-ranked Clayton State University men’s soccer team broke out of a two-game scoring slump in a big way Wednesday, blanking Pfeiffer University 4-0 in men’s soccer action at Laker Field.  

Clayton State jumped out to an early lead and never looked back with sophomore Pa’Alasan Jahumpa getting the Lakers on the board at the 15-minute mark off a direct kick. Jahumpa’s second goal of the season came after he drilled a shot in the lower right of the goal from 33 yards out.  

The Lakers added another goal six minutes later, as junior Andre Rall headed in his first goal of the season off a cross from sophomore Jarrid Nicholson. Neither team scored for the next 60 minutes until Clayton State added a couple of insurance goals in the final 10 minutes.  

Senior Victor Duncan took over the CSU scoring lead at the 82^nd minute with his fourth goal of the season. Duncan took a pass from freshman Johnny Lara, carried the ball for 15 yards before beating the keeper with a shot in the lower left. Lara gave the Lakers a 4-0 lead at the 87^th minute with a laser beam in the bottom left of the goal off a pass from junior Todd Denson.  

With the win, the Lakers improve to 4-1-2 on the season, while Pfeiffer drops to 3-2 on the year. Clayton State will return to action on Saturday, hosting North Georgia & State University in its Peach Belt Conference opener at 5 p.m.  

Morrow, GA --- September 10, 2005 --- The seventh-ranked Clayton State University men’s soccer team battled Florida Institute of Technology to a double scoreless tie Saturday at Laker Field.  

Clayton State controlled the match, outshooting the Panthers 17-3 in the match but was unable to find the back of the net against a packed in Florida Tech defense.  

The Lakers best opportunity to score came with 3:27 remaining in the second overtime, as sophomore Pa’Alasan Jahumpa took a short pass from senior Alex Dowling in the box. Jahumpa drilled a low line drive from 15 yards only to have Florida Tech keeper Cory Collins make a diving save.  

With the tie, Clayton State is 3-1-2 on the season, while Florida Tech moves to 1-1-1 on the season. The Lakers will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Pfeiffer University in a 6 p.m. match. Florida Tech will face Oglethorpe University in Atlanta on Sunday.  

In the first half, neither team had a strong scoring threat. Clayton State’s best chance came with 2:54 remaining on a shot from 20 yards out from Kevin Crooks.  

Morrow, GA --- September 6, 2005 --- Both the Clayton State University men’s and women’s soccer teams have opened their seasons with strong play and were rewarded Tuesday, climbing up the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll. 

The men’s team is currently tied for seventh in the national poll, moving up from 14^th, while the women’s squad has cracked the Top 25 for the first time in school history, vaulting up to 12^th in the national rankings. 

The Laker men are currently 3-1-1 on the season and are coming off a 1-1 tie to Eckerd on Sunday. CSU’s top win in the young season, a 1-0 overtime thriller, came against Queen’s University of Charlotte, a team that entered season ranked 22^nd in the country. 

Clayton State’s women’s squad has opened the season with two straight wins on the road, defeating Newberry College 2-0 and Presbyterian College 3-1. The Laker women are the only Peach Belt Conference squad in the rankings. Clayton State received votes for the national top-25 in the preseason poll. 

The seventh place ranking for the men’s team is the second highest ranking in school history. The program rose to a fourth place ranking in the 2002 season after finishing the 2000 campaign at 14^th and the 2001 season 13^th in the country. 

Along with the Clayton State men, Peach Belt Conference opponent the University of South Carolina Upstate is ranked in the top-25, coming in at 15^th with a 3-0 record on the season. 

Both the Clayton State men’s and women’s teams will return to action this weekend. The women’s team will travel to face Tusculum College on Friday before returning home on Sunday to face fifth-ranked Carson-Newman College in a 2 p.m. contest.  The home opener for the women’s team will be a rematch against C-N, a squad that ended the Lakers season last year in the first round of the NCAA Soccer Championships. 

After a two-game road trip last weekend, the men’s team will return home to host Florida Institute of Technology in a 4 p.m. match on Saturday.