HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Crusader left nothing to doubt in a dominant performance Thursday evening. Two goals either side of half time ensured the Crusaders ran out 4-0 winner over Middle Georgia.
 
The Crusaders & the Knights had the opportunity within the first five minutes to open the scoring as both teams looked to get started on the front foot. Middle Georgia forced a corner in the first three minutes but fortunately for the Crusaders it sailed straight out for a goal kick. Not a minute later and Christina Salmon found herself one-on-one with the Knights keeper but her effort was saved and Alyssia Davis was unable to convert the rebound.
 
Despite the early missed chance, it did not take long for the Crusaders to open the scoring. In the 7^th minute, Alyssia Davis picked up the ball on the ride hand side, drove towards goal and beat her defender. Davis then crossed the ball to find Karen Vilau unmarked in the box who tucked the ball into the bottom left hand corner.
 
The opening 25 minutes saw largely a period of control for the Crusaders. Eager to find a second goal, the Crusaders seemed antsy and were unable to create any clear-cut chances despite their control of possession. The Knights stayed strong defensively and limited the Crusaders to half-chances but were unable to create anything meaningful going forward for themselves.
 
Livia Pertl eventually grabbed the second goal of the game in the 27^th minute. A deep Rocio Fernandez corner found Valeria Barajas at the back post who headed across goal. Pertl managed to nip in front of the keeper to nod home before she could get her hands on Barajas' header.
 
The remainder of the half followed suit as Carey dictated possession. WCU created a few more chances but a sturdy Knights defense would limit them to half-chances and keep the scoreline at 2-0.
 
The second half continued how the first half finished, with Carey controlling possession but neither team able to create anything clear-cut. The Crusaders had the wind at their backs this half and looked to take advantage with long balls into the channels. This almost proved fruitful as Salmon found herself in on goal a few times but was unable to capitalize on her chances. The Knights closest chances came from range but rarely troubled Anita Gudmundsdottir in the Crusader net.
 
The hero of the second half was Esalenna Galekhutle as she would score the third and fourth goals of the game to put the result beyond doubt. Both goals followed the same script as a through ball turned into a one-on-one for Galekhutle who rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net. The third goal coming off a Davis assist in the 71^st minute and the fourth of a Kristina Decker in the 81^st.
 
Gudmundsdottir picked up the clean sheet for WCU with three saves on the match. Her distribution also helped the Crusaders to victory as it was often her accurate long balls from the back would start the Crusaders attack.
 
Coach Danny Owens and the Lady Crusaders are back in action Saturday, September 28^th as they take on Brewton Parker at 1 PM at Danny Owens Field.