Clayton State Wins PBC Men's Soccer Tournament Title in Double Overtime 3-2

MORROW, Ga. - November 4, 2007 – In what will go down as one of the “Classics” in the history of Peach Belt Conference men’s soccer tournament championships, the Clayton State Lakers rallied hard for a thrilling 3-2 victory over Lander on Sunday afternoon at Laker Field as Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year Jamal Geathers provided the game-winning goal in the 102nd minute.

The Peach Belt Conference tournament championship is the second in the last three seasons for 14th-ranked Clayton State, and the third overall for the Lakers in program history. The victory also improved Clayton State to 14-3-3 overall, the most victories in a season for the Lakers since winning 18 games in the 2000 season.

It was the fifth overtime championship game in the history of the Peach Belt Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament, which was first played in 1991.

The Lakers appeared to be left for dead, trailing 2-0 in the 62nd minute when Lander’s Aaron Brittain scored on a breakaway goal off an assist by Jamie Davison. However, three minutes later, Clayton State was back in the game when Geathers cut the lead in half with a header off a left cross from Hailab Habtom.

It stayed 2-1 until the 79th minute when Peach Belt Conference co-Player of the Year Tonny Madegwa tied on a header in front of the goal off a corner kick by Jarrid Nicholson.

The game went into the second overtime session when Geathers struck again. The flashy forward stole a Bearcat clear pass in the middle of the field and hammered home the game-winner from 35-yards out.

Lander took a 1-0 lead six minute into the contest when Jamie Ramm scored on a header in front of the goal off a corner kick by Davison.

Clayton State goalkeeper Billy Hale recorded two saves, while Garrett Daum recorded two as well for Lander (13-4-3). Clayton State out-shot Lander 14-9.

Madegwa was selected the tournament Most Valuable Player for Clayton State, and was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Geathers, Nicholson and Hale. Lander’s All-Tournament team selections were Brittain, Ramm and defender Ryan Thorman. Together, these seven players were added to the rest of the All-Tournament, which consisted of Derek Schicker, (Georgia Southwestern), Adam Lambert (USC Aiken), Kyle Clinton (Francis Marion), Steve Locker (UNC Pembroke), Thomas Morrow (UNC Pembroke), Brandon Kirksey (North Georgia) and Jose Herrera (North Georgia).

Both teams are favored to earn spots in next week's NCAA Southeast Regional Championships. The NCAA will announce the tournament field on Monday evening.