HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Goals galore on senior day, as the Lady Crusaders knock off Faulkner 13-0 in SSAC play.
 
Senior day in Hattiesburg and it was the seniors who got the party started early. The Crusaders found themselves four goals to the good within the first eight minutes, all courtesy of the seniors.
 
Christina Salmon opened the scoring in the fifth minute. A delicious through ball from Karen Vilau found the run of Salmon who had timed her run in behind the Faulkner defense perfectly. Salmon, in one-on-one with the goal keeper, took a touch around the onrushing Keila Cardeiro in the Eagle net and tapped into the empty net.
 
Roci Fernandez was the next senior on the scoreboard a minute later. A freekick just outside the right side of the Eagle penalty area. Fernandez wrapped her left foot around the ball and swung the ball into the near post, catching Cardeiro off guard. Cardeiro managed to get a hand on it but could not keep it out.
 
Three goals, three minutes, three seniors. Alyssia Davis this time the scorer. A Salmon cross found the feet of Zalma Torres who turned the ball onto the post. Davis followed in the Torres shot and tapped the ball into the empty net.
 
Less than a minute later and Salmon made it four in fortuitous fashion. Salmon received a ball out wide from Fernandez. Salmon aimed a cross for the back post and the ball sailed into the back side of the net.
 
The Crusaders saw the half out by adding another three goals on the scoreboard to send them in 7-0 at the break. Torres added a couple of goals for herself before Lesley Vasquez notched one of her own just before the break.
 
They say soccer is a game of two halves, but that was not the case here, as Carey almost matched their first half performance. The Crusaders added another six goals to the scoreboard in the second half.
 
Vilau, who had been denied by two good saves from Cardeiro in the first half, was not to be denied in the second. Vilau opened the second half scoring by converting from the spot, having been brought down herself to win the penalty.
 
Salmon was the first Crusader to claim her hattrick in the second half. A Fernandez cross field ball found Salmons run in behind. Salmon brilliantly brought the ball down on her thigh, took a touch to get away from the defender, and then rocketed the ball into the net.
 
Vilau & Vasquez would claim the next two goals before Torres sealed her hattrick. A neat one-two on the edge of the Eagles box around the defender allowed Torres through one-on-one on goal. Torres then took a touch and rifled the ball high into the net.
 
Tiare Hermosilla completed the rout with six minutes to go. Kristina Decker took aim and found her shot saved by Corinne Weissinger. Only for Hermosilla to follow in and finish past the downed keeper.
 
The Lady Crusaders are back in action Monday, October 21^st as they host Abraham Baldwin. Game set to get underway at Danny Owens Field at 5 PM.