MORROW, Ga. - November 5, 2007 – Although they were sure it would happen, the Clayton State Lakers officially punched their ticket to the 2007 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer National Tournament on Monday. The Lakers will play in the Southeast Regional at Lees-McRae as the No. 2 seed, and the first round opponent will be one all too familiar to Clayton State.

Peach Belt Conference rival and third-seeded Lander.

Just four days after playing each other in a heralded Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship, Clayton State and Lander will play each other for an unprecedented third time this season as the two teams square off on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Lees-McRae. The Lakers have defeated the Bearcats twice this season, including the thrilling 3-2 double-overtime victory in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship in which Clayton State rallied from two goals down to win.

Clayton State and Lander were the only two teams from the Peach Belt Conference selected to the 32-team NCAA Division II National Tournament field. This is the third NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance for Clayton State under fourth-year head coach Pete Petersen, and the fifth overall national tournament appearance in program history.

The Lakers are aiming for their NCAA Division II National Tournament victory since knocking off Queens on penalty kicks in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Division II National Tournament. This will be the third time that Clayton State and Lander have faced each other in the NCAA Division II National Tournament, and the Bearcats have won the two previous encounters.

The second first-round game pits Lees-McRae against Queens in a rematch of the Conference Carolinas Tournament championship game that Lees-McRae won 1-0 in double-overtime. The two first round winners will then play in the "Sweet 16" regional final on Saturday.

The winner of the Southeast Regional will then play the winner of the South Regional in the NCAA Division II "Elite Eight."