COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Clayton
State Lakers, led by the dynamic duo of Olaitan Yusuf and Nkese
Udoh, ran away from Armstrong Atlantic State to a 5-1 win in the
semifinals of the PBC women’s soccer tournament in Columbus,
Ga. Yusuf scored three goals and added an assist while Udoh added
two more with one assist. The Lakers, the #2 seed in the
tournament, now advance to face top seed and host Columbus State
in the Championship game on Saturday at 2:00With the win, Clayton State improves to 14-2-2 on the season. Armstrong Atlantic State falls to 11-8 and will await the annoucement of the NCAA Tournament field next Monday to see if their inaugural season will continue.
Both teams were tenative in the first half with Clayton State applying the bulk of the pressure and finally breaking through at the 19:22 mark as Yusuf, who was named the PBC Player of the Year before the game, received a pass from Jennifer Powell and beat AASU keeper Lisa Gray. But that was the only score of the first half as Clayton State outshot AASU 7-2.
The second half also got off to a slow start as the teams traded opportunities for the first 15 minutes. Yusuf put an end to that as Udoh played a perfect ball right down the middle, allowing Yusuf to streak through four AASU defenders to beat Gray one on one. Udoh struck 13 minutes later as Yusuf this time played a cross that Udoh headed home.
AASU was not without their chances, outshooting Clayton State 11-7 in the second half. Shana Neves took a shot that Clayton keeper Judith Chime had to tip over the crossbar. Later, AASU picked up their lone goal of the game as Neves put home a penalty kick after a Laker was charged with a handball in the box.
Yusuf scored then what may be the goal of the tournament as she dribbled through the entire AASU defense to put the ball home for a 4-1 lead. Udoh finished the scoring as Deahdra Bowier played a perfect give-and-go pass that led to another breakaway.
Clayton State and Columbus State will meet for the second time this season in the championship game. Columbus State handed Clayton State their only conference loss of the season 1-0 on the Lakers’ home field.