HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Crusaders picked up a big win on Saturday afternoon, as they took down local rivals the University of Mobile 2-0.
 
Without Head Coach Barry Farrell and Assistant Coach Guilherme Avila, it was down to Assistant Coaches Neil Kerr and Sean Peoples to take the helm.
 
"We had good spells at the start of the game and grew into it as the game went on." said Assistant Coach Neil Kerr. "We took our chances when they came and made sure, we limited theirs at the other end. We worked hard off the ball and defended really well as a team."
 
The local derby between William Carey & Mobile usually promises a scrappy contest, and this game was no different. There were 6 yellows between the two teams with neither team willing to give an inch either way.
 
Carey went close right out the gate. Pedro Sao Tiago was brought down just outside the box after a mazy run. Joshua Salas stepped up and sent a dipping free kick over the wall. Sam McDonald made the diving save to keep the game level.
 
The game was very back and forth early on. Both teams were weary of making mistakes early on, unwilling to commit to much going forward to make sure they didn't give up any easy goals.
 
With little action early on, Carey broke the deadlock in the 24^th minute thanks to a well-worked team goal. Milos Staykovic released Daniel Mulero over the top down the left. Mulero drove into the space afforded to him by the Mobile defense. As McDonald came out to close down Mulero, Mulero squared the ball to Tiago to tap into the empty net.
 
Mobile's best chance of the first half came from Eugenio Cazares. Cazares, in possession inside the Carey penalty area, twisted and turned past Carey defenders before pulling the ball back to the edge of the box. Salas read Cazares' intentions and made the interception, clearing the pass away from danger.
 
The second half went exactly the same as the first. With the game so close, both teams didn't want to make the mistake to gift the other team a goal. Mobile didn't want to gift Carey a two-goal lead and Carey didn't want to gift Mobile a way back into the game.
 
Nine minutes into the second half and Carey had their two-goal advantage. A quick freekick released Marc Guerrero down the right. Guerrero crossed the ball to the back post which then ricocheted off Lewis Green. That ricochet fell right in front of Santiago Molina who, on his unfavored left foot, sent the ball into the roof of the net and the Carey players into euphoria.
 
Carey did what was necessary defensively to make sure they saw out the win. Mobile often looked to get in behind and get balls into the box. The WCU back line dealt with everything UM threw at them and Carey goalkeeper Jamie Barry dominated any ball Mobile sent into his penalty area.
 
WCU are back in action on Thursday, October 16^th as they host Life University. That game is set to get underway at 7:30 PM at Danny Owens Field.