Clayton State women close out regular season with
3-0 shutout at USC-Upstate
Yusuf scores twice as Lakers run winning streak to six straight games

SPARTANBURG, S.C. --- OCTOBER 21, 2006 --- Who is the hottest women’s soccer team in the Peach Belt Conference entering next week’s conference tournament? Arguably the Clayton State Lakers.

Behind two goals from Olaitan Yusuf and another stellar defensive performance, the Lakers closed out the 2006 regular season in a flourish with a convincing 3-0 shutout victory at USC-Upstate on Saturday. After starting the season off 1-6, Clayton State is on fire, having won six straight games and eight of its last nine to end the regular season 9-7 overall and 7-2 in the Peach Belt.

This game was completely one-sided in favor of the Lakers. Clayton State limited USC-Upstate to only two shots the entire game and both shots were in the second half. Laker goalkeeper Lindsay Schmidt recorded her sixth shutout of the season with only one save. In the last nine games, she and the Laker defense have allowed only four goals.

Offensively, meanwhile, all three Clayton State goals took place in the first half.

Yusuf gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute when she scored off a cross from Nkese Udoh that was deflected by a Spartan defender in front of the goal. 10 minutes later, Udoh stole an errant pass at midfield and beat a USC-Upstate defender one-on-one for the goal and a 2-0 Clayton State lead.

Yusuf finished off the Clayton State scoring in the 26^th minute, scoring a goal off a long breakaway pass from Jennifer Winslett.

Clayton State will play at home on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the 2006 Peach Belt Conference Tournament. The opponent is to be determined.