FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9-24-06

College Soccer: AASU 2, Clayton State 1 (OT)

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Freshman forward Kristin Burton buried a shot from the top of the 18’ to give Armstrong Atlantic a 2-1 overtime Peach Belt Conference women’s soccer victory over visiting Clayton State on Sunday afternoon at Cingular Field.

AASU’s Lyndsi Stricklen sent a ball forward to the top right of the box, where Burton ran down the ball, made a move to beat two defenders, then rocketed a left-footed shot into the back of the net for the winning goal. It was Burton’s eighth goal of the season, coming five minutes into the first overtime period, and was her fourth game-winner of the season for the Pirates.

Clayton State (1-6, 1-2 PBC) took an early 1-0 lead on Yasemin Sunbul’s long-range shot in the 15th minute that caught AASU keeper Samantha Held off her line. The Lakers controlled the early portion of play, but the Pirates (7-2, 3-1 PBC) regained control of the match in the latter part of the first half, going into halftime outshooting the Lakers, 11-5, despite trailing by a goal.

The Pirates quickly equalized in the opening stages of the second half as Jamie Craine buried a shot from the left side of the box, off of an assist from Kayley Ralton, in the 48th minute.

The overtime contest was just the second for the Pirates at home in program history and AASU is 2-0 in those contests – last year, the Pirates defeated UNC Pembroke, 3-2, in an overtime contest.

For the game, AASU outshot the Lakers, 24-15, and keeper Samantha Held made seven saves in goal for the Pirates. Clayton State goalkeeper Lindsay Schmidt tallied six saves.

The Pirates next host SCAD for a 5:00 p.m. contest on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at Cingular Field. Clayton State returns to action with a home contest on Wednesday, Sept. 27, against Newberry at 6:00 p.m.

- Pirates -