MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Crusaders fall in the SSAC Championship game 3-1 to Life University on Saturday evening.
 
Both teams were missing key players, so it was time for someone new to rise to the occasion. That didn't stop the players that did take the field from leaving everything out there.
 
The opening 25 minutes saw both teams playing cautiously. Neither team wanted to make a critical mistake early on to gift the other a chance to go ahead. In such a tightly contested game, one goal could make all the difference. Both teams were able to work half-chances but Jamie Barry & Pawel Wolny were rarely tested in their respective goals.
 
With nothing to separate the sides early on, it was Carey who drew first blood. Carey worked the ball across midfield from left to right, ultimately finding Niall Lovelock making his way up the wing. Lovelock sent an early, low cross into the box, finding Pedro Sao Tiago. Tiago produced a lovely back heel to tee the ball up for a free Daniel Mulero to sweep home and put the Crusaders 1-0 up.
 
Life came close to equalizing not five minutes later when a Kaito Nakayama corner was headed on to the crossbar by Enrico Lazzari.
 
The Running Eagles didn't waste any time equalizing as they found themselves level within ten minutes. Enrico Burigotto showed excellent pace to get in behind Carey's defense. Burigotto drove to the goal line before chopping inside and pulling the ball back to an open Nakayama. Nakayama then shifted the ball onto his favored left foot and finished well under pressure to tie the game.
 
As the announcer began the ten-second count down to close out the first half, Life launched one last attack. Augusto Del Rio launched the ball for Manuel Carillo to run on to. Carillo produced an excellent first touch between two Carey defenders to set himself, and with two seconds left on the clock, unleashed a ferocious effort that flew into the goal with 0.9 seconds remaining in the first period.
 
The second half began much the same as the first, a tightly contested affair with neither team giving up any clear-cut chances.
 
With several players out injured, it meant a first appearance of the season for Life's Luka Andrijic and he certainly made it count. Carey gifted Life possession in the middle of their own half. Vicente Cuquerella picked up the ball and played in Carillo down Life's right-hand side. Carillo then found Andrijic unmarked in acres of space on the penalty spot for the easy pass into the corner. Andrijic had all but sealed the win in his first appearance of the season.
 
Mulero almost earned Carey a lifeline with five minutes to go. Mulero sent a knuckling free kick up and over the wall before rattling the crossbar.
 
Carey now await their fate as they hope for an at-large bid to the NAIA National Championship. They will find out where & who they play in the coming days. The first & second rounds are set to be played at host sites across the country November 20^th-22^nd.