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Lightning strikes twice! Crooks scores game-winner in overtime for
Lakers
Clayton
State downs USC-Aiken in 2-1 thriller, clinches share of Peach Belt
Conference title
MORROW,
Ga. --- OCTOBER 18, 2006 --- Lightning struck twice for the
Clayton
State Laker men’s soccer team and forward Kevin Crooks.
Last week, the senior scored the game-winner in overtime as Clayton
State knocked off Georgia Southwestern. Fast forward one week later
on Wednesday night and the scenario was the same – Crooks scored the
game-winning goal in the 105th minute of the second
overtime, giving Clayton State a thrilling 2-1 victory over 25th-ranked
USC-Aiken at Laker Field.
The victory, coupled with USC-Upstate’s shocking 1-0 double-overtime
defeat against North Georgia, assured Clayton State (9-7, 5-1) of at
least a tie for the Peach Belt Conference regular season
championship.
It was an exclamation point for Crooks on Senior Night as he and
fellow Laker seniors Andre Rall, Heath Padgett, Todd Denson, Steve
Weston and Junior Smith played their final regular season games at
Laker Field.
After a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation and a scoreless first
overtime period, Clayton State got the break it needed in the second
overtime. Johnny Lara ran down a loose ball and fed a pass to Hailab
Habtom at midfield. Habtom then found Crooks on a breakaway pass
down the right sideline for a 12-yard strike past Pacer goalkeeper
Harold Tate for the game-winner.
Clayton State took a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute as
Habtom scored on a header off a cross pass from Rall. However, USC-Aiken
(9-5-2, 3-1-2) converted the equalizer on a goal by Adam Lambert in
the 68th minute.
Clayton State 16 shots to 11 for USC-Aiken.
Clayton State can wrap up its second straight outright Peach Belt
championship on Saturday at 7 p.m. at USC-Upstate. |