DECATUR, Ala. – A late second half goal propelled #5 William Carey over Lindsey Wilson Saturday evening at the Jack Allen Recreation Center.
 
It took less than four minutes into the contest for Carey to find themselves with a goal on the score board. Argentina Estrada crossed the ball from the right of the goal, missing her intended target, but finding a wide-open Alessia Navarro in the middle of the 18-yard box. Navaro let loose a shot with the Lindsey keeper managing to get a glove on the ball, but it was not enough, as the ball still trekked towards the goal. A Blue Raider defender attempted to clear the ball, but the AR signaled she was too late, as the ball had already crossed the plane of the goal.
 
Less than five minutes later, WCU had another opportunity to extend their lead, as Virginia Mesa received a cross from just outside the 18-yard box and with a quick tap sent the ball towards the near post. However, the Lindsey keeper was in the right position, as the ball went straight into her arms to keep it a one goal game.
 
The Blue Raiders had multiple looks at goal scoring opportunities, but the Lady Crusader defense was up to challenge, holding the Blue Raiders to just one shot on goal in the first half. That chance came in the 27th minute, as Amanda Parreires played a corner kick to the far side of the box to Ashiat Naluggwa but she was off balance on the shot attempt, leaving a slow roller for the WCU keeper to easily scoop up.
 
Two minutes into the second half, LWC had evened the match. Amanda Parreires played a corner into the middle of the box where a WCU defender attempted to head the ball clear.Instead, the ball found the feet of Sharon Nadunga at the top of the 18 where she wasted no time sending the ball into the back of the net.
 
Carey continued their plan of attack, seeing multiple chances vanish due to a stringent Blue Raider back line. However, in the 63^rd minute, Livia Pertl played a long ball up the right side to Navarro who then drove to the corner of the box, where she dumped the ball off to Karen Vilau. Vilau made a turn to set up a clean look at the goal and then promptly buried the ball inside the right post for what would be the game winner.
 
Lindsey picked up the offensive pressure and with 10 minutes to go, Lara Rocha crossed the ball towards the left post for Ashiat Naluggwa. It appeared that Nerea Pallas Padilla had an easy look to corral the ball but there was a miscommunication between her and a Carey defender, and it was looking like Naluggwa would have an easy goal. Luckly Padilla managed to recover and scooped up the loose ball to hold onto the one goal lead.
 
The final ten minutes saw WCU control the ball for most of the remaining time. Carey had a few opportunities to put the game away for good, but each chance was snuffed out by the Blue Raider defense, eventually leading to the 2-1 victory for Carey.
 
WCU is back in action Thursday, September 4, as they head to Foley, Ala. to take on #2 Keiser University.