HATTIESBURG, Miss. – William Carey booked their place in next weeks semifinal as they took down Faulkner University 7-0 on a chilly Thursday afternoon at Danny Owens Field.
 
"We put in an excellent, all-round performance today" said Head Coach Danny Owens. "We talked in practice this week and in our team talks about ensuring we put in a complete performance for 90 minutes and we did just that. We got some good minutes for a lot of players today so overall it was a good day at the office."
 
With the regular season in the rear-view mirror, it was time for the SSAC Conference Tournament. Post-season play brings the added pressure of knowing that any loss could mean the end of the season, or at least, an exit from the tournament.
 
Carey, unencumbered by the pressure of post season play, went on the offensive from the start. A long ball over the top from Argentina Estrada found Karen Vilau, who's touch took her a little wide of the goal than she'd have liked. Never the less, Vilau brought the ball under control and looked to square the ball to Lauren Entremont for the easy tap in. WCU would've been 1-0 up in the opening 5 minutes had it not been for the interception and clearance from the Faulkner defender.
 
It didn't take long for the Lady Crusaders to get their goals as they scored two in the space of 60 seconds. Alessia Navarro played a neat one-two with Virginia Mesa that released Navarro in behind. She took a touch to set herself and slotted the ball past Taylor Waters, catching the keeper out at the near post.
 
60 seconds later and Carey were 2 up, and Mesa had her 2^nd assist. Having won the ball back shortly after kick off, Mesa found Entremont on the right-hand side. Entremont took a big touch past her defender and she was off to the races. Entremont raced in behind, and spotting Waters off her line expecting the cross, rifled the ball past her at the near post and high into the net.
 
Carey continued to exploit Faulkner's high line as the Eagles refused to adjust their game plan. Boo Mills threw the ball into Mesa who held the ball up before back-heeling the ball into the path of the overlapping Vilau. Vilau beat two defenders and, spotting the space in behind, knocked the ball behind the third defender and ran onto the ball. In one-on-one, Vilau sent a dipping shot over the head of the Eagles keeper to put the Lady Crusaders up 3-0 inside 23 minutes. Mesa had herself a first half hattrick of assists and Carey were good value for their lead.
 
Carey continued to exploit the Eagles highline throughout the remainder of the half, but Faulkner were able to stop the bleeding for the time being as Carey took a 3-0 lead into the break.
 
With a three-goal lead, nobody told Carey they could just put it in cruise control and ride the game out. WCU continued to take the game to Faulkner and showed their offensive prowess.
 
Five minutes into the second half and WCU had all but put the game to bed. Another ball in behind found Estrada galloping down the right. Estrada drove into the penalty area and pulled the ball back to an open Navarro. Navarro's first effort was blocked, but she was not to be denied a second time as the rebound fell straight back to her and she finished low past a diving Waters.
 
The best goal of the day came by way of a devastating counterattack. Vilau intercepted a pass on the edge of the box and began storming up the field. Navarro joined Vilau, sprinting on Vilau's right at blistering speed. Vilau slipped in Navarro who returned the favor by pulling the ball back to her inside the box. Vilau took a touch and used the outside of her foot to curl the ball into the far corner, putting the icing on the cake of an excellent, flowing move.
 
WCU maintained control of the game for the near entirety of the game. Faulkner were rarely able to muster any offense, and even when they did, it was quickly snuffed out by the Carey defense.
 
Carey closed out the game with two more goals in the final 7 minutes. Maddie Davis volleyed home a Raquel Diaz corner before Natoya Atkinson coolly finished a Paloma Paris pass.
 
Nerea Pallas Padilla and Marie Reinwald picked up the clean sheet in Carey's goal. Both keepers marshalled their back lines and commanded their box excellently, ensuring the shutout.
 
With the win, WCU progresses to the semifinals of the SSAC Tournament in Montgomery, Ala. They will take on the winner of Point University and the University of Mobile. That game is scheduled for Thursday, November 6^th at 11 AM.