MORROW, Ga. --- OCTOBER 18, 2006 --- Lightning struck twice for the Clayton State Laker men’s soccer team and forward Kevin Crooks.
Last week, the senior scored the game-winner in overtime as Clayton State knocked off Georgia Southwestern. Fast forward one week later on Wednesday night and the scenario was the same – Crooks scored the game-winning goal in the 105th minute of the second overtime, giving Clayton State a thrilling 2-1 victory over 25th-ranked USC-Aiken at Laker Field.
The victory, coupled with USC-Upstate’s shocking 1-0 double-overtime defeat against North Georgia, assured Clayton State (9-7, 5-1) of at least a tie for the Peach Belt Conference regular season championship.
It was an exclamation point for Crooks on Senior Night as he and fellow Laker seniors Andre Rall, Heath Padgett, Todd Denson, Steve Weston and Junior Smith played their final regular season games at Laker Field.
After a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation and a scoreless first overtime period, Clayton State got the break it needed in the second overtime. Johnny Lara ran down a loose ball and fed a pass to Hailab Habtom at midfield. Habtom then found Crooks on a breakaway pass down the right sideline for a 12-yard strike past Pacer goalkeeper Harold Tate for the game-winner.
Clayton State took a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute as Habtom scored on a header off a cross pass from Rall. However, USC-Aiken (9-5-2, 3-1-2) converted the equalizer on a goal by Adam Lambert in the 68th minute.
Clayton State 16 shots to 11 for USC-Aiken.
Clayton State can wrap up its second straight outright Peach Belt championship on Saturday at 7 p.m. at USC-Upstate.
Source: Clayton State University Sports Information
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