The Pirates (13-2-2) have advanced to the semis in each year of existence as a varsity program since 2005 and are the defending PBC Tournament champions. Armstrong will face the winner of Tuesday night's 4-5 seed matchup of Georgia College and North Georgia in Evans, Ga., on Friday at 5 p.m. Clayton State (6-12) sees its season come to an end with the loss.
Armstrong had several early scoring chances against the Lakers right from the start. A first-minute penalty kick drawn by Kristina Pascutti provided a golden opportunity, but Kelli Bahr's attempt sailed wide to the right. Clayton State goalkeeper Stefania Cola then made four saves in the first seven minutes on Pirate shots and a shot by Armstorng's Courtney Cawley in the 17th minute hit the crossbar.
The Pirates finally broke through in the 25th minute as Nadima Skeff's cross from the right side found the foot of Fey, who beat Cola for the 1-0 lead. That score opened the floodgates as Armstrong would find the back of the net twice more within the next 12 minutes. Morgan Mitchell's long throw bounced once at the top of the box, and Lianne Stricklen touched it past Cola in the 33rd minute for the Pirates' second goal of the match.
Fey would then earn the first-half brace in the 37th minute, beating Cola from a cross by Emily Cattanach to give Armstrong the 3-0 halftime lead. The Pirates outshot the Lakers, 24-2, in the first half.
It didn't take long for Armstrong to add insurance in the second half as Erin Holt wound her way through the Clayton State defense, then delivered a cross over the head of Cola from the right side. Kristina Pascutti ran onto the ball, driving it into the open net for a 46th minute tally to put the Pirates up, 4-0.
Holt would claim a goal for herself in the 55th minute for the Pirates, scoring off of a rebound to close out the scoring.
"We are excited about returning to Evans, Ga., and the Peach Belt Final Four for a sixth straight season," Armstrong head coach Eric Faulconer said after the match as the Pirates improved to 6-0 all-time in PBC Tournament first-round matches. "I was pleased to get goal production from several different players on the day and I thought our defense did a nice job on the dangerous Cherie Sayon for the Lakers."
Armstrong finished the match with a 36-3 advantage in shots over the Lakers and a 4-1 edge in corner kicks. Clayton State was whistled for eight fouls, compared to seven for the Pirates, and Armstrong was offsides five times in the match while the Lakers were offsides twice.
Clayton State keeper Stefania Cola made 14 saves in the match, while Mitchell and substitute keeper Meghan Mayville each collected a save for the Pirates.
Friday's match against either the Bobcats or the Saints will be available on live stats at AASUPirates.com.
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