Clayton State’s Klute, Garcia earn PBC weekly honors for men’s soccer

AUGUSTA, Ga. – September 7, 2011 – The Peach Belt Conference released its first weekly honors for men's soccer on Wednesday, and the Clayton State Lakers garnered two of three awards.

Defender Chris Klute was selected as the Peach Belt Defensive Player of the Week, while goalkeeper Brian Garcia earned PBC Goalkeeper of the Week honors. The Laker duo joins Flagler forward Mack Hough, who earned PBC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Both Klute and Garcia played key roles as the nationally-ranked Lakers opened the 2011 season over the weekend with two victories in the Laker Shootout.

Klute, a sophomore transfer from Division I Furman and former U-17 and U-20 U.S. National Team starter, stepped into his role as the central figure of a Laker defense that allowed only one goal in the two games. He successfully marked Anderson All-South Atlantic Conference and Division II All-Southeast Region forward Lasse Sohrweide in Clayton State's 5-1 rout over the Trojans.

Klute then helped the Lakers with their first shutout of the season – a 1-0 victory over Pfeiffer on Saturday as Clayton State held the Falcons to only one shot for the entire game.

Garcia, a senior from Jonesboro, Ga., did not allow a goal in his first two games of the season and recorded the shutout against Pfeiffer. He was only goalkeeper in the Peach Belt to not allow a goal in the first two games of the season.

LAKERS HOLD STEADY IN THIS WEEK'S NSCAA DIVISION II TOP 25: The Clayton State Lakers held steady in this week's NSCAA Division II Top 25 poll, which has Clayton State ranked fifth in the nation just like in the preseason poll.

Northern Kentucky held on to first, followed by Rollins, Midwestern State and Dowling. Clayton State is one of two Peach Belt teams ranked this week. Montevallo made one of the bigger leaps, moving up from 19th to 13th, while Lander received votes.

Clayton State puts its 3-0 mark on the line this weekend when the Lakers travel to Boca Raton, Fla., for the Wyndham Garden Inn/Lynn Soccer Classic. Clayton State battles Lynn (coached by former Laker head coach John Rootes) on Friday at 4:30 p.m., and Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Sept. 7 Peach Belt Conference
Players of the Week

Brian Garcia PBC Goalkeeper of the Week	Chris Klute PBC Defensive Player of the Week