MORROW, GA. – Despite playing with a broken hand, Hailab Habtom recorded a hat trick to lead Clayton State University to a 5-1 win over Francis Marion University, Tuesday evening (Oct. 24) in a quarterfinal match of the 2006 Peach Belt Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament.

The victory advances the second-seeded Lakers (10-8) to the tournament semifinals on Friday at 2:30 p.m. against USC Aiken. The victory also gives the Lakers their ninth season of 10 or more victories, including the last eight straight.

FMU, which entered the tournament seeded seventh, ends its season at 4-12-1.

Junior Jonathan Bartomioli scored Francis Marion’s lone goal in the 86th minute with the Patriots already trailing 4-0. He took a cross from Kyle Clinton and scored his fifth goal of the year.

Habtom scored twice in the first half to give Clayton State a 2-0 lead. He intercepted a clearing pass from Francis Marion goalkeeper Jeremy Crooks just outside the penalty box, split three defenders and hammered home the goal from 12 yards out in the 20th minute. Six minutes later, the junior midfielder recorded another steal in the penalty box and maneuvered himself for a 10-yard scoring strike from the left side of the goal.

Habtom finished off his hat trick in the 48th minute on a flicker off a cross pass from Mattias Faublas. With his three goals, Habtom is now tied with senior forward Kevin Crooks for the team lead in goals scored with nine.

Freshman Ryan Townson scored his first collegiate goal in the 74th minute, taking a pass from Daniel English down the left flank and penetrating for a 10-yard scoring strike. Then in the 87th minute, Faublas scored off a deflection from Patriot goalkeeper Nick Krywyj.

Crook registered one save in the first half, and Krywyj had four saves in the second half. Clayton State out shot FMU 24-6 and led 6-1 in corner kicks. Laker goalkeepers Heath Padgett and Chris Cantrell combined for one save in the victory.