Wednesday, September 21, 2005        

DAVE BAILEY GOAL IN 100TH MINUTE LIFTS NO. 9 TUSCULUM
PAST NO. 6 CLAYTON STATE 2-1

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- With less than one second remaining in the first overtime period, Dave Bailey (Bristol, England) launched a breakaway shot from 15 yards out to lift the No. 9 Tusculum College men’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over No. 6 Clayton State on Wednesday at Pioneer Field. (Box Score)

The overtime thriller was the fourth such match in seven contests for TC, with the Pioneers emerging victorious in all four.  With the win, Tusculum improves to 6-1, while Clayton State falls to 5-3.

The teams battled to a 0-0 tie after one half of play, and each squad played a portion of the period one man down after a pair of red cards.

The Pioneers made their way onto the scoreboard in the 61st minute when Clayton State made a miscue on a corner kick that resulted in an own goal score for Tusculum.  Three minutes later, the Lakers pulled even when Andre Rall (Johannesburg, South Africa) headed in a corner kick from Aaron Baker (Loganville, Ga.).

Neither team would find the back of the net again in regulation, and it looked as though one overtime period would not settle the matter until Bailey fired the match-winner fractions of a second before the final horn sounded.  The goal marked Baileys second "golden goal" this season.

With the victory, Tusculum carries a nine-match home win streak and an 18-match home unbeaten streak.

Both nationally-ranked squads fired eight shots in the contest.  Clayton States Heath Padgett (Gainesville, Ga.) made the start in goal and made one save before sustaining an injury and giving way to Laker teammate Daniel English (Hampton, Ga.), who recorded two saves.  TC keeper Jose Juarez (Paterson, N.J.) made three stops, going the distance.

Next on the schedule for TC is a South Atlantic Conference showdown with Mars Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 28.  Kick-off is set for 8:00 p.m. at Pioneer Field.  Clayton State will travel to USC Aiken for a Peach Belt Conference match on Saturday, Sept. 24.  Action is set to begin at 5:00 p.m.

-TC-