GREENWOOD, S.C. --- OCTOBER 27, 2006 --- The 2006 men’s soccer season came to a tough conclusion on Friday for the Clayton State Lakers as dropped a 2-1 decision against USC-Aiken in the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament at Lander.

The defeat ends the Lakers’ season at 10-9. Clayton State can take pride in winning its second straight Peach Belt Conference regular season championship.

“We had plenty of chances in the second half and played our guts out. It was fun,” said Clayton State head coach Pete Petersen. “We played with a wreckless abandon, but just came up short.

“I can’t wait until next season.”

Playing in a steady rain, the game was dead even until the final minute-and-a-half of the first half when USC-Aiken scored both of its goals.

Eugene Phillips gave the Pacers a 1-0 in the 43^rd minute when he spun with his back to the goal and hammered the ball into the upper right side of the net for the goal. Just 34 seconds later, Alex Lewis scored on a free kick to give USC-Aiken a 2-0 lead at halftime.

Clayton State cut the lead in half early in the second half when Hailab Habtom struck the ball to the near post in the 55^th minute for his 10^th goal of the season. The Lakers had plenty of chances to tie it following the goal. The big opportunity was a minute later when Dean Gilewicz’s 35-yard laser from the top hit the top crossbar.

In the second half, the Lakers out-shot USC-Aiken 13-10. Clayton State goalkeeper Heath Padgett recorded two saves, while Pacer goalkeeper Harold Tate recorded five saves.