Basic HTML Version
Page 23
Campus Review
December 12, 2013
Campus Review
December 12, 2013
Editor:
John Shiffert
Writers:
Sarah Boyd
Erin Fender
Ciji Fox
Lauren Graves
Amanda Parham
Layout:
Lauren Graves
Photography: Erin Fender
Ciji Fox
Graphic Design: Lauren Graves
Alicia Robinson Named First-Team NSCAA All-America
O’Sullivan Named NSCAA Division II S.E. Region Coach of Year
Clayton State women’s soccer player
Alicia Robinson led the Lakers to the
Peach Belt Conference regular season and
PBC Tournament Championships in 2013,
and she has received another honor fol-
lowing her fine senior season.
A midfielder from Telford, England,
Robinson was named to the first team
National Soccer Coaches Association of
America (NSCAA) All-America team.
She was also named to the Daktronics All-
America squad and was named to both
All-Region squads earlier this month.
“We are thrilled to have Alicia (Robinson)
recognized as a first teamAll- American,”
said head coach Gareth O’Sullivan. “She
is worthy of the award and has really
helped put the program back on the map.”
The All-American recognition for
Robinson is only the third time a Clayton
State women’s soccer player has received
the honor. Nkiru Okosieme was named
All-American in 2004 and Olaitan Yusuf
received the honor in both 2004 and 2005.
The 2013 Peach Belt Player of the Year,
Robinson led the league with 10 assists on
the season and initiated the Clayton State
offense that led the PBC in goals scored
with 48 on the year. A team captain,
Robinson was also named to the 2012
NSCAAAll-Region team and was an All-
PBC performer last year.
After recently completing one of the most
successful seasons in the history of the
Clayton State women’s soccer program,
the postseason awards continue to pour in
for the Lakers.
Clayton State head coach Gareth
O’Sullivan was named the 2013 NSCAA
Division II Southeast Region Coach of the
Year, the first time a Laker women’s soc-
cer coach has received the honor. In addi-
tion to the region award, O’Sullivan was
also named the Peach Belt Conference
Coach of the Year last month.
“This award is shared amongst the entire
coaching staff whom I’m lucky to have,”
said coach O’Sullivan.”
Taking over the program three years ago,
O'Sullivan has brought Clayton State back
to elite status in women’s soccer. The
Lakers won the 2013 Peach Belt
Conference regular season championship
and also captured the Peach Belt
Conference Tournament Championship.
Both titles were the first since 2005 and
only the second time in the program’s 19-
year history.
The Lakers also advanced to the 2013
NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer
National Championships for the first time
since 2005 and finished with a 12-4-6 record
on the year. The squad entered the national
tournament ranked #11 in the country.
Sports
Clayton State Improves to
4-1 with 80-66 Win Over Fort Valley
by Gid Rowell
The seventh-ranked Clayton State women’s
basketball team picked up a hard-fought
road victory Tuesday, defeating non-confer-
ence opponent Fort Valley State 80-66 in
Fort Valley, Ga.
The Lakers outscored the Wildcats 26-8 over
the final nine minutes of the game for the win.
Trailing 58-54 with 8:44 remaining in the con-
test, the Lakers went on a 15-0 run over the
next four minutes to take control of the game.
Senior forward Kiana Morton ignited the
Lakers with a basket and scored four points
during the game-deciding stretch, while
sophomore center Andrea Benford capped
the run and scored six points during the run.
Benford’s basket, two of her game-high 20
points, gave the Lakers an 11-point lead, 69-
58, with 4:25 remaining.
Fort Valley cut the deficit to eight points, 72-
64, with 1:44 remaining but the Lakers
scored eight unanswered points to seal the
victory. Benford scored five of the final eight
points for the Lakers, who led by as many as
16 in the final minute.
With the win, the Lakers improve to 4-1
overall, while Fort Valley drops to 1-6 on the
season. Clayton State will return to action on
Saturday, Dec. 14, hosting Georgia
Southwestern at 1:30 p.m. at the Athletics
Center as part of the Peach Belt Conference
doubleheader opener for the Lakers. The
men's game will tip-off at 3:30 p.m.
Benford’s 20 points came on 8-of-10 shoot-
ing from the field. Senior forward Shacamra
Jackson added 18 points, which included 10-
of-11 from the free throw line. She also fin-
ished with 11 rebounds, four blocks and
four steals.
Women’s Basketball, cont’d., p. 22