WEST POINT, Ga. – The Crusaders got back to winning ways as they picked up a narrow victory over conference rivals Point University in a game they dominated.
 
The Crusaders controlled the vast majority of the first half. They dominated in possession and rarely let the Skyhawks out of their own half. Kolby Godbolt nearly got the Crusaders up and running in the sixth minute as he nearly latched onto a Roberto Rangel through ball. Point keeper Simon Niksch was quick to snuff out the chance as he came off his line and just about beat Godbolt to the through ball.
 
Tommy Eskew had Points only chance of the half as he ran onto a long ball over the top of the Carey defense. The through ball forced him a little wider than he would've liked which gave Carey keeper Henry Hampshaw a favorable angle to deal with the shot. Eskew fired wide of the Carey goal and didn't trouble Hampshaw.
 
Godbolt nearly broke the deadlock in the 20^th minute. Godbolt found the ball at his feet 30 yards from goal, took a touch out his feet, and let rip from distance. Godbolt's fierce shot forced an acrobatic save from Niksch and could only force the corner.
 
Carey scored what proved to be the only goal of the game in the 33^rd minute thanks to a well dispatched Caoimhin McConnell penalty. Alessandro Villarreal's direct running got him into the Skyhawk penalty area. Villarreal took his touch past the defender who stuck his foot out to win the ball but clipped Villareal instead, forcing him to the floor. The contact left the referee no choice but to point to the penalty spot. McConnell, fresh off breaking the school's appearance record in his previous game, dispatched the resulting penalty into the bottom left-hand corner sending Niksch the wrong way.
 
Carey continued their dominance to start the second half. Carey controlled possession of the ball and continued to limit the Skyhawks. The Crusader's best chance in the opening ten minutes fell to Billy Boag. Rico Duggan played a ball into Boag's feet inside the penalty area. Boag held off the advances of the Point defender, turned, and fired his shot straight at Niksch.
 
Point's best chances in the second half came from long free kicks into the Carey box. The Skyhawks only shot on target came this way as a free kick into the box fell to the feet of Eskew. He then did excellently to hit a half-volley on the turn from 25 yards out. His strike flew straight at Hampshaw who made the save.
 
The second half fizzled out with the Crusaders controlling the game from start to finish. Carey outshot Point 19-3 and shots on target 7-1. Hampshaw picked up the clean sheet in between the sticks for the Crusaders saving Points only shot on target.
 
The Crusaders are back at home on Saturday as they host Faulkner in SSAC action. That game is set to get underway at 4 PM.