LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Another Top 25 matchup and another Top 25 win. On a windy Georgia afternoon it was the Crusaders who tamed the Grizzlies 2-0 at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.
 
Carey looked to continue their goal scoring exploits from their previous game and almost did immediately. The Crusaders went close in the opening two minutes through Christina Salmon and Kokona Nishikawa, however, neither were able to turn their effort's goal bound. Georgia Gwinnett nearly got themselves on the scoresheet in the opening 5 minutes themselves if it were not for Anita Gudmundsdottir bravely diving at the forwards feet to deny the Grizzlies.
 
The next 10 minutes would be a cagey affair with both teams trying to feel each other out and limiting each other to half chances.
 
It didn't take long for the Crusaders to open the scoring as Nishikawa would put the Crusaders up 1-0 in the 16^th minute. Esalenna Galekhutle would latch onto a Rocio Fernandez through ball down the left hand side. Just as it looked like the defender was shepherding the ball out for the goal kick, Galekhutle would wrestle the ball away and pull it back on to the edge of the box for Nishikawa to pass into the back of the net via a minor deflection.
 
Carey had the chance to double their lead not two minutes later were it not for a spectacular double save from the Grizzly keeper. Argentina Estrada strode forward from the back to sting the gloves of the Grizzly keeper, only for the save to fall at the feet of Karen Vilau. Vilau connected cleanly on a half volley, only for the keeper to recover and make the save yet again.
 
Galekhutle had the next chance to double the lead after she went through 1-on-1 after a cheeky flick over the defense from Salmon. Unfortunately for the Crusaders the Grizzly keeper stood tall and made the save.
 
On the 30 minute mark the Grizzlies thought they had found an equalizer. A shot from the edge of the penalty area looked destined for the top corner before Gudmundsdottir flew through the air to claw the ball out the air and knock it out for the corner.
 
The second goal would eventually come on the 40 minute mark following some great team play from the Crusaders. Lauren Jones picked the ball up inside her own half, drove forward past two defenders and found the feet of Zalma Torres. Torres then played a great through ball for the on rushing Davies who found herself 1-on-1 with the keeper. Davies got her head up and unselfishly squared the ball across the 6 yard box for Galekhutle to tap in to the empty net.
 
The second half would start the same as the first with both teams having chances to get on the scoresheet but neither able to take advantage. Georgia Gwinnett, looking to find a way back into the game, would enjoy possibly their best spell of the game in terms of possession in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. The Grizzlies kept the ball well and looked to create chances but Gudmundsdottir and the Carey back line stood firm and denied anything Georgia Gwinnett would try to create.
 
The Crusaders would make it through that opening 10 minutes and control the game from there on out. Carey's speed up front through Salmon, Davies, and Galekhutle were causing all sorts of problems all game but were unable to capitalize on their numerous chances in the second half. The game would fizzle out and finish 2-0 to the Crusaders.
 
Gudmundsdottir picked up the clean sheet in goal for the Crusaders. The Carey keeper recorded 5 saves in the game, including two big saves at crucial points in the game when it was finely poised at 0-0 and 1-0.
 
Plaudits must be given to Georgia Gwinnett keeper Ayano Kurosawa as she recorded 11 saves in goal. This turned out to be the 3^rd most saves in a single game made in a game by a Grizzly keeper.