HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Carey go 2-0 to open the season with a late goal from the penalty spot to seal a 2-1 win over LSU Shreveport.

Both teams spent much of the first 20 minutes feeling each other out. There was little action in front of either goal, however Carey kept much of the ball inside the LSUS half. Carey maintained possession but couldn't create anything clear-cut as it remained goalless.
 
Carey got their first real look at goal in the 24^th minute. Kokona Nishikawa won the ball back excellently before threading a through ball into the path of Alessia Navarro down the right wing. Navarro drove into the box and slid a ball across the six-yard box. Unfortunately, Virginia Mesa's sliding attempt could only turn the ball over the bar.
 
The Pilots made the breakthrough in the 29^th minute against the run of play. Ashley Moore found herself in possession on the left-hand side. Her through ball found the run of Halee Hernandez. Hernandez cut inside in the box and unleashed a fierce shot on goal that stung the hands of Carey keeper Nerea Pallas Padilla and found it's way into the top corner.
 
Carey's best chance to equalize in the first half came in the 36^th minute. Kayla Martin intercepted a ball on the edge of the Pilots box. Martin then found Mesa, who took a touch across her body and took aim from 25 yards but could only rattle the crossbar and go over.
 
Carey came out the blocks firing the second half, testing Elena Lopez early. Carey's first chance came after Karen Vilau's corner went over everyone's head. Lauren Entremont retrieved the ball and put a cross right on Mesa's head in the middle of the six-yard box but Mesa narrowly put her header wide of the right-hand post.
 
Lopez came up big with a double save only 2 minutes later. Entremont pressed a Pilots back pass, pouncing on Lopez's bad touch. Entremont then gathered the loose ball and set Navarro for the first time shot. Lopez got up and made a sprawling double save to make sure the Pilots held onto their lead a little longer.
Carey eventually found the equalizer their dominance deserved. Mesa's through ball found Entremont but her shot was well saved by Lopez. The rebound found Navarro who's first shot was excellently blocked by the sliding LSUS defender. The rebound once again found Navarro's feet who was not to be denied a second time as she rifled the ball into the roof of the net.
 
The next 30 minutes was mostly spent at the feet of the Lady Crusaders with the Pilots sporadically threatening on the counterattack. Lopez pulled off numerous saves despite playing injured and did all she could to keep the game level.
 
WCU eventually got their winning goal from the penalty spot. Entremont was brought down inside by a sliding tackle from the spot, leaving the referee no choice but to award the penalty. Vilau stepped up and slotted the ball to her left, sending Lopez the wrong way and sealing the win for the Lady Crusaders.