HATTIESBURG, Miss. – #2 William Carey was all business Saturday evening, as they defeated Xavier University 3-0 at
Danny Owens Field.
WCU wasted no time taking control of the match. Just three minutes in,
Virginia Mesa played a ball over the top to
Alessia Navarro. Navarro drove up the field and fired from the right of the goal. The shot rattled the crossbar but fell kindly to a wide-open
Lauren Entremont for the easy tap in.
In the 18
th minute,
Ella Jefcoat followed Mesa's example with a long ball over the XULA defense to
Boo Mills. Mills then drove to the near post and sent a ball across the face of goal to Navarro who buried the finish to make it 2-0 WCU.
Xavier's best chance of the half came in the 20th minute, as Jayda Wyatt took aim from 20 yards out, sending her effort just over the crossbar. Six minutes later, the Lady Crusaders had a three-goal lead.
The Gold Nuggets played the ball back to the goalie to clear but the ball went straight to
Lesley Vasquez 20 yards out. Vasquez then drove on the right side of the 18-yard box and cut the ball back to
Karen Vilau in the middle of the box. Vilau took one touch and fired. The XULA defender tried her best to block the shot but couldn't get a telling touch as the ball found its way into the back of the net.
The second half saw Carey control the ball for most of the time. Just like the first half, the Lady Crusaders wasted no time in pressing the attack. Two minutes in, Entremont drove through the Gold Nuggets defense to have just the goalie to beat. The XULA goalkeeper charged forward to make the sliding save.
Also, just as in the first half, Xavier had their chance in the 54
th minute. Juliana Kottbauer beat the Carey defender, but the shot missed just left to keep it 3-0 WCU. The Lady Crusaders had their chances as well to extend their lead. In the 60th minute,
Argentina Estrada fired from the right of the goal, but the Xavier keeper was positioned perfectly to make the save.
Over the next 28 minutes, the game saw little action until Xavier created one last chance at a goal, but the chance was negated by an offsides call to keep the score 3-0 Carey.
WCU is back in action Wednesday, September 17, as they take on #17 Georgia Gwinnett. Kick-off is scheduled for 11:00 am at
Danny Owens Field.
