SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men’s soccer team hosted the first NCAA Division II Regional contest in school history on Sunday as the fifth-seeded Valkyries tried to avenge an early season defeat to fourth-seeded Clayton State University. The contest was even at 1-1 through 110 minutes as the contest was decided 5-4 on penalty kicks in favor of Clayton State.

It didn’t take long for the Valkyries to strike as Hayden Gensler played a ball to Jaxon Keene who ripped a shot into the upper right 90 for this third tally of the season. That gave Converse the 1-0 lead in the sixth minute. Converse controlled play in the first half, taking six shots and holding Clayton State to four. The Valkyries also had the edge on Corners 4-2.

In the second half was tight, but Converse continued to pressure the Lakers, placing seven shots on goal. However, Clayton State turned away all seven shots to keep the deficit at one goal. On the other end of the field, the Lakers took eight shots, three on goal, and the last one paid off. Alexis Iturria took a pass from Alex Rodriguez and found the back of the net with 17.7 seconds remaining. That evened the score and sent the contest to overtime.

Clayton State took the lone two shots in the first overtime, but the Valkyries turned both away. In the second extra session, Keene found himself behind the defense in the 108th minute, but the Lakers came up with the same to keep the game knotted at 1-1 after 110 minutes.

The Lakers came up with a save on the first Converse attempt in penalty kicks. Converse then converted on the next four, but Clayton State converted on all five, advancing 5-4.