Lakers open 2007 season with impressive 5-0 shutout over dangerous Belmont Abbey
Haggon scores twice as Clayton State rolls in day one of Laker Shootout

MORROW, Ga. – August 31, 2007 – The wait was worth it for the Clayton State Laker men’s soccer team as it finally opened the 2007 on Friday with an impressive 5-0 victory over visiting Belmont Abbey on the first day of the 2007 Laker Shootout at Laker Field.

Clayton State, which had its original season opener last Friday against Tampa washed out, used a combination of it offensive speed up front and vaunted physical defense to shut down a dangerous Belmont Abbey squad that entered tonight’s game 2-0 overall.

The Crusaders entered this season as a dangerous offensive team, led by Conference Carolinas Player of the Year from last season Luis Arrieta. However, Clayton State locked down Belmont Abbey defensively, limiting the Crusaders to only six shots for the game. Clayton State, meanwhile wasted little time taking control of the contest with three first half goals.

Freshman midfielder Marijan Babic scored his first collegiate goal in the eighth minute as he drilled a 30-yard free kick past Belmont Abbey goalkeeper Bryan Alenky. Senior defender Karl Haggon then took care of the next two scores with a goal off an assist by Tonny Madegwa in the 19th minute and his second goal in the 36th minute off a Crusader deflection.

The Lakers added two insurance goals in the second half, playing in a continuous rain shower. Madegwa took a cross pass from Hailab Habtom and attempted a shot from the right side of the penalty box, only to have Alenky save it with a deflection. However, Madegwa kept his concentration and scored off the ricochet.

Freshman Jamal Geathers scored his first collegiate goal in the 56th minute from the right side of the penalty box off a cross from Madegwa.

For the game, Clayton State had 23 shots, including 12 shots on goal. Alenky recorded five saves for Belmont Abbey, while Laker goalkeepers Billy Hale and Janiel Simon combined for the shutout with one save. The game was physical, especially in the second half, with a total of 42 fouls and seven yellow cards.

The Lakers aim to make it two straight on Saturday in the Laker Shootout, playing host to Anderson at 7:30 at Laker Field. Anderson blanked North Georgia in the first game on Friday 4-0. Saturday’s first game at 5 p.m. pits North Georgia against Belmont Abbey.