BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. – A scrappy affair at the Blue Mountain Sports Complex saw William Carey take the spoils. The Crusaders picked up their second conference win in 3 days as they knocked off Blue Mountain 2-0 in SSAC play.
 
The first half was a defensive stalemate with both goalkeepers recording three saves to keep it 0-0 in the first 45 minutes. Both teams had good chances to break the deadlock but both keepers stayed true and refused to give up a goal. The Toppers best chance came just after 5 minutes as a long ball over the top beat the Crusader back line and allowed the Blue Mountain striker through one-on-one. Henry Hampshaw was thankfully aware to the situation as he rushed out to bravely deny the goal by staying on his feet and making the save.
 
The Crusader's best chances would come through Jamie Wynne and Kolby Godbolt. An excellent ball from wide right would find the feet of Jamie Wynne on the six-yard line who steered the ball goalward, only for the Topper keeper to make the point blank save. Later that half Kolby Godbolt found himself through on goal following a ball over the top but couldn't direct his effort goalward as he fired wide from a tight angle.
 
The second half would continue where the first half left off. Both teams searching for that elusive first goal. Carey began to take control in the second half controlling much of the possession and rarely allowing the Toppers to have the ball in dangerous areas.
In the 68^th minute the Crusaders would find the goal that would send them on the way to victory. A long ball over the top found Roberto Rangel wide on the left with space to drive inside. Rangel, finding himself in a dangerous position, hit a half cross, half shot across goal forcing the Topper keeper to make the diving save. Wynne would find himself in the right place at the right time as the ball fell to his feet for him to tap in to the empty net.
 
Carey still maintained the majority of possession following the goal and went in search of a goal to kill the game off. More fouls and more yellow cards would follow as Blue Mountain went in search of an equalizer but the Crusader back line held strong.
 
With 7 minutes left on the clock, Marc Guerrero gave the Crusaders the insurance goal and the goal to put the game to rest. Caoimhin McConnell whipped an inswinging free kick from the left hand side into the penalty area. Guerrero made the run across his defender and glanced a header  over the Topper keeper and into the back of the net.
 
The remaining minutes saw the Crusaders managing the clock and taking the ball into the corner to see out the victory and the clean sheet. Hampshaw picked up the clean sheet in between the sticks for the Crusaders, recording 4 saves on the day.
 
The Crusaders are back in action Thursday, September 26^th as they host Middle Georgia at 7:30 PM at Danny Owens Field.