Lakers open 2006 season with 2-1 double-overtime defeat at Rollins
Crooks scores lone Clayton State goal in battle of Division II Top 25 teams

WINTER PARK, Fla. — AUGUST 24, 2006 — Clayton State men’s head soccer coach Pete Petersen labeled the three-game trip to Florida to open the 2006 season for the Lakers as a “measuring stick.” The trip started on a tough note on Thursday as Clayton State dropped a 2-1 decision in double-overtime at Rollins.

It was a showdown of NCAA Division II Top 25 teams as Clayton State entered the game ranked eighth in the nation, while Rollins was ranked 25th nationally.

“We played well, but we stopped working with six minutes remaining in regulation,” said Clayton State head coach Pete Petersen. “This is the kind of game we will see in November, and we needed to know what we’re made of early.”

The two teams played to a defensive stalemate the entire first half and for most of the second half. However, the offensive fireworks took place in the final eight minutes of regulation.

Clayton State took a 1-0 lead in the 82nd minute as Kevin Crooks scored off a direct free kick by Angel Kalinov. The Lakers switched to a 4-5-1 alignment to try to finish out the shutout, but Rollins answered in the 88th minute when Chris Cerroni scored on a header off a post deflection shot by Juan Kusnir.

After a scoreless first overtime, the Tars won it in the 101st minute when Cerroni scored on a penalty kick following a hand ball penalty against Clayton State in the penalty box.

Laker goalkeeper six saves, while his Rollins counterpart Frazer Siddall recorded four saves. The two teams combined for 48 fouls and six yellow cards in the spirited matchup.

Clayton State continues its swing through the Sunshine State with a 7:30 p.m. showdown on Saturday at Tampa.