Evans, GA — A shot for the ages by Laker forward Jahmela Williams with less
than a minute remaining in regulation Sunday sent the Peach Belt Conference
Tournament Championship to overtime allowing the Lakers to prevail over Georgia
College later in a penalty kick shootout at Blanchard Woods Park in Evans,
GA.
Georgia College appeared to have the Championship match won in regulation but Williams corralled a loose ball at the top of the box in the final seconds, took two quick dribbles and fired a shot in the upper left of the net past the outstretched arms of Georgia College goalie Jessica Catapano.
The goal knotted the game at 2-2 with 51 seconds remaining, sending the match into overtime. After neither team scored in the two 10-minute overtimes, the game
went to a penalty kick shootout with Lakers prevailing 4-2.
Clayton State’s Lois Edvardsson, Melissa Hetherington, Emily Walling and Saidhbh Collins all had
goals in the shootout. Laker keeper Charlotte McCormack had two saves to lift
the Lakers to the Tournament Championship.
The Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship is Clayton State’s second in
school history as the Lakers also won in 2005. By winning the tournament, the
Lakers receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II National Soccer
Championships out of the Southeast Region.
After a scoreless first half, Georgia College opened the scoring Sunday, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal Ashley Veilleux, finishing off a shot that deflected off a defender. The score was her
ninth of the season.
The Lakers answered in the 77th minute as forward Lois
Edvardsson scored on a thru ball from forward Denisha Paskell. The goal was
Edvardsson’s sixth of the year.
Georgia College retook the lead in the 86th
minute on a score by Cayce Hamilton after cross from Alex Giles, setting up the
heroics from Williams. The goal from the forward from Las Vegas, NV, was her
sixth of the year.
Clayton State held a 21-8 advantage in shots, and the
Laker defense held the Bobcats to no shots on goal. The Lakers held a 4-1 edge
in corner kicks. Bobcat keeper Catapano finished with 10 saves.
With her game-saving goal in regulation, Laker forward Williams was named the Peach Belt
Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player. Williams also had a goal in the
first round match against Montevallo and in Friday’s semifinals against Lander.
Keeper McCormack, Walling and Alicia Robinson were also named to the
All-Tournament team.
The match is scored a tie, giving Clayton State a 12-3-6
record on the year, while Georgia College is now 10-7-3. The tie extends Clayton
State’s unbeaten streak to 16 matches on the season.
By: Clayton State Sports Information.
