MORROW, Ga. -- For the second straight match. the Georgia Southwestern State University men's soccer team allowed a pair of second half goals, perhaps none more crushing than the shot by Clayton State University's Hector Gutierrez in the 88th minute Saturday afternoon that sent the Hurricanes home with a 3-2 defeat in the Peach Belt Conference opener for both schools at Laker Field.

The Hurricanes have lost their last four matches and dropped to 2-5-1 overall this season while Clayton State snapped a two-match losing streak and improved to 2-4-1.    

GSW was the beneficiary of a misplaced defensive header by Clayton State on a cross by Jonathan Sayers in the 18th minute and rolled with the own goal for an early and brief 1-0 lead. Dusan Stankovic answered three minutes later for the Lakers when he pounced on a deflected ball in front of the goal off a corner kick.

Matheus Alves put the Hurricanes back out front when he collected a lead pass from Caleb Zolman on a breakaway in the 34th minute and drilled a shot from the right wing inside the left post for his team-leading fifth goal of the season. GSW led 2-1 at the halftime break.   

Clayton State delivered the equalizer 10 minutes into the second half and Gutierrez rounded out the scoring with the game winner. The Lakers managed only three shots in the second half, but two of them found the back of the net.

Clayton State finished with a 9-4 shots on goal advantage and committed two more fouls in the match, 5-3. GSW held a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.

Up Next: The Hurricanes make their final non-conference road trip of the season on Wednesday for a 4:30 p.m. match at Point University.