HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Lady Crusaders took care of business as they booked their place at the final site of the 2024 NAIA National Championship in Pensacola, FL. Carey took down Xavier (La.) 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Lady Crusaders opened their regular season hosting the Gold Nuggets and ran out 5-1 winners. Carey were keen to come into this game without letting that early result go to their head, knowing a lot changes over the course of a season.
 
Both teams had chances in the opening minutes to take the lead. Esalenna Galekhutle found herself in on goal but couldn't get to the ball ahead of Theresa Wiesiolek. Gabriela Gonzalez also found herself one-on-one with Nerea Pallas Padilla but was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle from the recovering Livia Pertl.
 
Xavier took control in the opening 15 minutes, controlling possession and looking the most likely to score. The Lady Crusaders dug in for the start of the game and refused to give in to the Gold Nugget pressure.
 
Despite Xavier's early dominance, it was Carey who would strike first. Galekhutle picked the ball up on the edge of her own box, strode forward, and played a sublime through ball for Christina Salmon. Salmon, who started 10 yards behind the defender, caught her up, wrestled in front of her, and got onto the end of the through ball to slot home past Wiesiolek.
 
On the 31-minute mark, the Gold Nuggets had a penalty claim turned down. Xavier claimed Argentina Estrada had handled the ball following a sliding challenge inside the box. The referee waived away the protests and the game went on.
 
Carey looked more like themselves coming out of half time. Controlling possession and firing shots at Wiesiolek. Virginia Mesa had 3 chances in the opening 10 minutes but was unable to beat the Xavier keeper who was doing her best to keep the Gold Nuggets in the game.
 
WCU's early pressure paid off as Alyssia Davis gave Carey the chance to go 2-0 up. Rocio Fernandez played a ball from deep into the feet of Davis. Davis's excellent first touch allowed her to beat the defender and drive into the box. Davis then took a big touch past the next defender who stuck out her foot and tripped Davis inside the box, forcing the referee no choice but to point to the penalty spot. Karen Vilau stepped up, full of composure, and knocked the penalty home, sending the keeper the wrong way.
 
Xavier's best chances of the half cane through Julia De Souza, both in the space of 2 minutes. The first came from some intricate footwork on the edge of the box but her through ball was smothered by Padilla. The second, a turn and shot on the left-side of the box that found the grateful arms of Padilla.
 
With time running out, and Xavier's hopes of finding a way back into the game fading, the Lady Crusaders would put the seal on the performance with a 3rd to kill the game. Lea Renoux knocked the ball round the defender on the right-hand side and beat her to it. Renoux then fired the ball low across the edge of the six-yard box. Galekhutles deft backheel at the front post knocked the ball into Valeria Barajas' path who fired home at the back post to send the Crusaders to Pensacola.
 
"We're really happy to be going back to the final site again." said Head Coach Danny Owens. "Xavier came in with a game plan and it worked. They're a very good team who came to play and took the game to us in the beginning. In the second half we made some adjustments, and the girls played a lot better in the second half"
 
The Lady Crusaders now progress to the Round of 16 of the NAIA National Tournament in Pensacola, Fla. They will face the winner of Indiana Wesleyan and Cumberland (TN.). That game will get underway on December 2nd or 3rd at 10 AM.