PEMBROKE, N.C. --- OCTOBER 7, 2006 --- Soccer can be a game of breaks, and the breaks went the way of the Clayton State Laker men’s soccer team on Saturday at rival UNC-Pembroke.

In a defensive dominated contest, the Lakers took advantage of an ill-timed Brave own goal and used a stellar defensive effort to pull out a 1-0 thriller over UNC-Pembroke at the Belk Athletic Complex. The victory was the second straight for head coach Pete Petersen’s Clayton State squad, which improves to 6-7 overall and 2-1 in the Peach Belt Conference.

The victory also keeps Clayton State in the hunt for the Peach Belt championship. The Lakers trail first place USC-Aiken by only a half-game in the standings.

The only score came in the early minutes of the second when UNC-Pembroke’s Zach Rowell had a ball ricochet off his foot and into the net for the own goal. The game, however, belonged to both team’s defenses.

The Braves limited Clayton State to no shots on goal, while Clayton State goalkeeper Heath Padgett was stellar for the Lakers. The senior corralled a save in the 41^st minute to preserve a scoreless first half, and another in the final minute to seal the shutout.

UNC-Pembroke (6-5-1, 3-1) appeared to have tied the game in the 86^th minute when Thomas Morrow scored on a header off an Andrew Brown service. However, Morrow was hit with a hand ball infraction, nullifying the score.

Clayton State plays host to Peach Belt newcomer Georgia Southwestern on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Laker Field.