MARIETTA, Ga, - The Crusaders claimed their fifth straight victory, as they knocked off conference foe Life University in SSAC action on Thursday evening.
 
The Crusaders dominated the opening 30 minutes. Not allowing a single shot and creating six of their own, with two of those forcing Life goalkeeper Justine Candel into a couple of saves.
 
The talking point of the opening 30 minutes would be Christina Salmon's appeal for a penalty turned down. A long ball from Anita Gudmundsdottir bounced over the Life back line, which allowed Salmon to pressure the defender. Salmon then managed to wrestle her way between the defender and the bouncing ball, forcing contact from the Life defender. Salmon was then forced to the ground but the contact was deemed fair and the referee waved away the claims for a penalty.
 
Life grew into the game after the opening 30 minutes. The Running Eagles forced Gudmundsdottir into her two saves of the half in the space of five minutes. Both chances coming from opposite wingers. Left winger Jeanne Brigand first cut inside onto her right foot and took aim before right winger Sienna Strap drove towards the goal line and fired across goal. Both times finding Gudmundsdottir up to the task.
 
Carey's best chance would almost fall to Essalena Galekhutle. A near-perfect through ball from Karen Vilau tried to find the feet of Galekhutle as she timed her run perfectly in behind the Life defense. Unfortunately for the Crusaders, Candel read the ball and came off her line quickly to smother the through ball, denying Galekhutle the chance.
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The Running Eagles came out on the front foot at the beginning of the second half as they forced two back-to-back corners in the opening five minutes. Life were however unable to make either of them count.
 
Despite Life's early threat, the Crusaders would make sure their first half dominance was not in vein as they opened the scoring in the 51^st minute. Salmon's blocked shot at the top of the box fell to the feet of Alyssia Davis. Some nimble feet from Davis evaded the Life defenders before she'd find a pass into the on running Galekhutle. Galekhutle's deft finish into the bottom left hand corner put the Crusaders up 1-0.
 
The ensuing 15 minutes saw both teams go back and forth. Life vying for an equalizer and Carey looking to double their lead. Galekhutle thought she had found the back of the once again, only to be denied by the assistant referee's offside flag.
 
In the 79^th minute, the Running Eagles found their equalizer. An early cross from Strapp on Life's right-hand side found Brigands run behind the Carey defense. Brigand took a touch round Gudmundsdottir and finished into the empty net.
 
They say a team is most vulnerable when they have just scored a goal and that proved to be the case for the Running Eagles. Two minutes later and the Crusaders had retaken the lead for good. Ella Jefcoat received the ball halfway inside her own half. Jefcoat strode out, beating a defender and found Galekhutle. She then turned and played a ball wide to the feet of Salmon. Salmon, using her blistering pace, blazed past the Life defender and drove towards the goal line. Salmon then pulled the ball back to the edge of the six yard box to the feet of Galekhutle who had continued her run into the box and fired home the game winner.
 
Life threw all they could at Carey in the final ten minutes in search of an equalizer. They were able to manage a few shots and crosses into the box but nothing the Crusaders couldn't deal with. Some excellent game management in the closing minutes ensured the Crusaders ran out with the victory.
 
The Crusaders are back in action Sunday, as they travel to Face Dalton State. That game set to get underway at 12:30 PM.