Wednesday, November 7, 2001
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Wednesday, November 7, 2001 |
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Lady Lakers and Lakers fall in overtime of soccer semifinals After winning its first ever postseason match Tuesday, the Clayton College & State University women's soccer team came one score shy Friday of advancing to Saturday's Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship. The Lakers fell in a heartbreaker Friday in the PBC semifinals, losing to regular season champion the University of South Carolina Spartanburg 2-1 in double overtime. USCS All-Conference player Thea Moen scored the game-winning goal from 18 yards out, two minutes into the second overtime period to lift top seed USC Spartanburg over a gutsy Clayton State squad. USCS (15-2-1) scored first in the match when Lina Edner took a corner kick from Christine Pirinoli and guided a shot just beyond the outstretched arms of Clayton State keeper Michelle Smith.The goal gave the Lady Rifles a 1-0 lead 18 minutes into the match. Clayton State (11-7-0) responded on a solid two-on-one play 40 minutes in. All-Conference performer Nkiru Okosieme broke free from the USCS defense on the right side with two Lady Rifle defenders chasing her, leaving Jocelyn Okoro open on the left side. Okosieme crossed the ball to Okoro, where she pounded a shot to the top right corner from 15 yards out, tying the match at 1-1. Both teams packed it in on defense in the second half, combining for only six shots in the second stanza. As the second half was winding down, USCS gained control of the ball within five yards of the goal. Several players from both teams attempted to get the ball, and eventually the ball dribbled into the net for an apparent Lady Rifle goal. However, Okosieme was pushed down in the fracas and a foul was called on USCS, negating the goal. After a scoreless first overtime period, USCS pressed early in the second overtime period, leading to Moen's goal. Clayton State keeper Smith finished with four saves, and USCS All-Conference keeper Lindsay Allen had two saves. The Clayton State loss ends its most successful season ever as the squad tallied a record 11 wins on the year and finished with a 3-3 mark in the PBC. The Laker men did not fare any better against the University of South Carolina Spartanburg. USCS striker Preben Ringerike fired a 10-yard shot beyond the outstretched arms of Clayton College & State University keeper Warren van der Westhuizen in the second minute of the second 15-minute overtime to lift the Rifles to a 1-0 victory over the Lakers in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinals Saturday. The win advances the Rifles (13-4-1), the No. 5 seed in the tourney, to the tournament final at Clayton State.
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