Clayton State Edges Out North Georgia 1-0 to Advance to Championship Game

MORROW, Ga. - November 2, 2007 – Last-minute heroics are starting to become habit for Tonny Madegwa.

After preserving Clayton State’s Peach Belt Conference regular season championship last week with the game-tying goal against Francis Marion, Madegwa came through again. The Peach Belt Conference co-Player of the Year scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute on Friday as Clayton State survived a 1-0 shutout victory over North Georgia in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinals at Laker Field.

The victory lifts 14th-ranked Clayton State to 13-3-2 overall, and it sets up Sunday’s Peach Belt Conference tournament championship game pitting top-seeded Clayton State against second-seeded Lander at 2:30 p.m. at Laker Field. Lander knocked UNC-Pembroke 5-1 in Friday’s first semifinal game.

Sunday will be the third time that Clayton State will play in the Peach Belt Tournament championship game. This will also mark the first time ever that Clayton State and Lander have played each other in the tournament championship.

Both teams went toe-to-toe the whole game in a defensive stalemate. However, Clayton State broke through in the waning moments when Hailab Habtom fed Madegwa in the left side of the penalty box. The senior forward then flicked the game-winner past North Georgia goalkeeper Brandon Kirksey.

Both teams were stellar on the defensive side. Clayton State recorded its ninth shutout of the season, limiting the Saints to only eight total shots, including only two shots on goal.

Clayton State goalkeeper Billy Hale recorded the shutout with two saves, while Kirksey recorded five saves for North Georgia (8-10-1).