MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Crusaders punched their ticket to Saturday's SSAC Championship game with a come-from-behind victory, knocking off Faulkner University 2-1.
 
"I'm really proud of our boys tonight" said Head Coach Barry Farrell. "The boys showed excellent character to respond the way they did after going a goal down. Marc Guerrero's grandmother passed away back in Spain this morning so for him to not only score the equalizer, but to put in a man of the match performance like he did it was almost written in the script."
 
The game had everything you'd expect from a semifinal. Drama, physicality, entertainment, and two teams that left everything on the field.
 
Carey enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening few minutes but were unable to create anything meaningful. Faulkner were well organized and refused to give the Crusaders any space to play. The Eagles kept their shape well and were willing to let Carey have the ball in their own half.
 
Despite this, it was Faulkner who drew first blood. Faulkner's Konsti Witte ran across his defender at the near post to provide a deft little flick off an Asaph Silveira cross, right into the path of Angel Ugwumba. Ugwumba hit his first effort straight at the feet of Carey's Jamie Barry in goal. The rebound fell kindly back to the feet of Ugwumba who tapped into the empty net to put Faulkner up 1-0 inside seven minutes.
 
Both teams went back and forth following the goal with neither team able to work any clear-cut opportunities. Carey & Faulkner took turns playing some attractive, free flowing soccer but both were denied by the other's sheer determination to deny their counterparts.
 
The introduction of Marc Guerrero and Rico Duggan to the game proved the catalyst for Carey's offense to really kick into their next gear. Both provided that spark and attacking flair needed to unlock a stubborn and well-organized Eagles defense.
 
Thus, it was no surprise who provided the equalizing goal for the Crusaders. With two minutes to go until half time, Duggan caught Faulkner in possession in the middle of the Eagles half with the ensuing counterattack ending with a corner to Carey. Duggan whipped the corner into the near post to meet the head of Guerrero. Guerrero glanced his header across the face of goal, and despite the Faulkner defender's best efforts to clear the ball, it ended up in the back of the net.
 
Where the first half finished, the second half picked right back up. Both teams continued to battle tooth and nail for a spot in Saturday's final.
 
Both teams enjoyed their spells of dominance throughout the second half. Faulkner managed to work the better chances throughout the second half and that was shown in the stats as they led in shots, shots on goal, & corners. Carey had some very good looks going forward but were just missing that final pass to create an opening.
 
The Eagles thought they had taken the lead in the 60^th minute. Faulkner's danger man, Ugwumba, brought down a long pass into his feet, turned through three Carey defenders and unleashed his shot that looked destined for the bottom corner. The Eagle's would have retaken the lead had it not been for an excellent diving stop by Barry.
 
Carey's Jamie Barry showed exactly why he was voted SSAC Defensive Player of the Year in the second half. Barry pulled off several big saves to keep the Crusaders in the game and commanded his box with the presence of a man thrice his size.
 
With time running out, Carey's resilience proved fruitful as they managed to clinch the game with minutes remaining. And what a finish it was. One worthy of the occasion. Owen Fontenot rebounded a pass off the Faulkner defender's legs and chased it down into the corner. Fontenot wrestled the ball from the Faulkner defender, and despite Faulkner's claims for a foul, the referee waived off their protests. Fontenot pulled the ball back to Duggan in the middle of the penalty area who sent a delicate, looping shot over Andre Ferreira and into the top corner. 
 
With the win, the Crusaders progress to this Saturday's SSAC Championship game. They take on Life University at the Emory Folmar Soccer Complex in Montgomery, Ala. That game is set to get underway at 7 PM.