Clayton State releases 2006 men’s soccer schedule
10 home games highlight Laker season with six regionally-ranked opponents on the slate

View 2006 Men's Soccer Schedule
MORROW, Ga. --- APRIL 13, 2006 --- Home will definitely be where the heart is for the Clayton State men’s soccer team this season. Head coach Pete Petersen released his official schedule on Wednesday, and the Lakers will be playing 10 games on the friendly confines of Laker Field. Clayton State is coming off a banner 2005 season in which the Lakers went 13-4-4, won both the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Division II National Tournament for the second straight season.

Just like last season, the Lakers will face a challenging schedule in 2006. Of the 17 opponents, 11 finished last season with winning records, while seven were regionally ranked and three were nationally-ranked.

”I went out of my way to pick a fight with many of the top programs as possible,” said Petersen, who is 25-8-8 entering his third season at Clayton State. “Don’t expect too many high scoring games with this schedule.”

Within the Peach Belt alone, the Lakers will face two nationally ranked teams in UNC-Pembroke and USC-Upstate, plus another NCAA Division II National Tournament team in Lander. In addition, regionally ranked Division II programs Tusculum and Queens are on the schedule, as is local rival Emory, one of the top-ranked teams in NCAA Division III.

The Lakers open the 2006 season with a three-game swing through the Sunshine State. Clayton State opens on Aug. 24 at Rollins, followed by games at Tampa on Aug. 26 and at Florida Tech on Aug. 28. Clayton State opens the home portion on Sept. 1-2 with the Laker Invitational against Queens and Lees-McRae. The first Peach Belt game is on Sept. 8 at North Georgia.