Kendyll Clayton couldn’t have written a better script for her collegiate debut.

        In her first game with the Lady Raptors last season, Clayton collected one goal and two assists to lead Rutgers-Camden to a season-opening 4-0 victory over Bridgewater College at the Shenandoah Women’s Soccer Shootout (Sept. 2). Not only did that victory spark the Raptors on the road to the tournament championship, with a 2-0 win over host Shenandoah the next day, but it helped Clayton capture a trio of honors after her first weekend of collegiate play. On Sept. 4, she became Rutgers-Camden’s first Raptor of the Week for the 2006-07 school year. Later that day, she added the first honor of the season as the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week.

        Clayton’s haul wasn’t finished. On September 5, she was recognized with a spot on the d3kicks.com Team of the Week. It was the first weekly team ever for the national web site, which made its debut last season.

        Clayton finished her rookie season playing in 13 games, starting eight, and finishing fourth on the team in scoring with 11 points. Despite a mid-season injury, which sidelined her for the final seven games of the regular season, Clayton scored three goals and finished second on the team with five assists.

        Clayton scored her second collegiate goal in a 4-3 loss at Juniata College (Sept. 11) and added her other goal to help the Lady Raptors post a 2-1 win at NJAC rival Kean University (Sept. 23).

        Clayton picked up an assist on Kate Campbell’s game-winning goal against another NJAC team, Rutgers-Newark, in a 2-1 Raptor win Sept. 16. Her final two assists of the season came during a 7-0 win over the College of St. Elizabeth (Oct. 7) before she collided with the visiting goalie, sidelining her for the next seven games. She returned to play in the Raptors’ final game, a 2-1 ECAC Metro tournament loss at SUNY-Farmingdale (Nov. 11).

        Clayton captured seven varsity letters at Holy Spirit High School: four in soccer and three in crew. She also earned Second Honors and National Merit Roll recognition.

        Playing for soccer Coach Mark Gorman, Clayton served as a team captain and was a Cape-Atlantic League All-Star. She earned Second Team and Honorable Mention Cape-Atlantic League National Division honors during her scholastic career and also captured the Brooke Shrieves Award as the Spartans’ most dedicated soccer player. During her crew career, Clayton captured a silver medal at the Statesbury Cup.
        A dual History and Political Science major who plans to attend law school, Kendyll is the daughter of Donna and John Clayton of Egg Harbor Township.