Georgia College spoils Laker women "Senior Night" with thrilling 5-4 victory
Yusuf records hat trick, but Clayton State slips to 9-4-1 overall and 4-3 in Peach Belt

MORROW, Ga. – October 17, 2007 – Wednesday night was "Senior Night" for the Clayton State Laker women’s soccer team, and the Lakers aimed to send their six seniors out on a winning note against visiting Peach Belt Conference rival Georgia College. However, a late goal by the visiting Bobcats spoiled the show as Georgia College pulled out a thrilling 5-4 victory at Laker Field.

The defeat snapped a five-game winning streak for Clayton State, which slips to 9-4-1 overall and 4-3 in the Peach Belt.

The defeat spoiled a valiant effort on the part of Clayton State, which rallied twice to tie the game after trailing by two goals.

With 29 minutes remaining, Georgia College appeared to have a comfortable 4-2 lead when senior Lairin King fed a perfect downfield lob pass to senior forward Olaitan Yusuf, who lobbed a shot from the top of the penalty box for a Laker goal.

The score stayed 4-3 until the 86th minute when Yusuf tied the game on a towering header off a corner kick by senior Jennifer Winslett. However, a minute later, Georgia College’s Beth Coughlin stole an errant Laker clear attempt and scored from 12 yards out on the right side the penalty box for the eventual game-winner.

Yusuf, a two-time Division II All-American, recorded a hat-trick in her Laker Field finale. Her 10 yard shot from the middle of the penalty box tied the game at 2-2 in the 40th minute. Senior Yasemin Sunbul scored the first Laker goal in the 32nd minute on a header off a corner kick.

Georgia College (10-3, 4-2) got a goal from Hayley Ferrell in the 12th minute on a penalty kick, a goal from Jamie Nevin in the 18th minute, a goal from Kelli McLane in the 43rd minute and a goal from Emily Norris in the 57th minute.

Clayton State senior goalkeeper Lindsay Schmidt recorded five saves, while her Georgia College counterpart Mary Rob Plunkett recorded four saves. Georgia College out-shot Clayton State 18-14.

The Lakers close out the regular season on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Lander.

Five straight! Red-hot Laker women blank
North Greenville 3-0
Yusuf scores twice as Clayton State improves to 9-3-1 overall

MORROW, Ga. – October 16, 2007 – With the 2007 season winding down, the Clayton State Laker women’s soccer is starting to wind it up.

The Lakers made it five straight victories on Tuesday with a 3-0 shutout over visiting North Greenville at Laker Field. The victory improves Clayton State to 9-3-1 overall heading into Wednesday night’s Peach Belt Conference showdown against Georgia College. In the Lakers’ nine victories, Clayton State has allowed only two goals with seven shutouts.

The game was totally one-sided as Clayton State out-shot the Lady Crusaders 35-4. The Lakers got two first half goals from senior Olaitan Yusuf as she upped her Clayton State and Peach Belt Conference career records for goals scored at 80 and points scored at 179.

Yusuf gave the Lakers 1-0 lead in the eighth minute, taking the ball untouched from the Clayton State defensive end for the score. That was followed by Yusuf’s second goal in the 41st minute as she stole the ball just inside of midfield and scored from the top of the penalty box.

Clayton State increased the lead to three goals early in the second half when freshman forward Maggie Mueller tallied her first collegiate goal in the 47th minute off an assist from Lindsay Schmidt.

The Laker goalkeeping combination of Schmidt, Kristin Cook and Whitney Jowers recorded the shutout with three saves. Jessica Binkey recorded seven saves for North Greenville (2-8-2).

Clayton State plays its final home game of the 2007 regular season on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against Georgia College. It will be "Senior Night" for the six Laker seniors.