HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Molina's hattrick fires the Crusaders to a thumping 5-0 win over Wiley University on Friday evening.
 
Carey came out all guns blazing, as they found themselves ahead within 5 minutes. A Marc Guerrero corner was pulled back to Danny Mulero on the edge of the box. Mulero took a touch and sent a dipping shot to the far post that looked destined for the back of the net. Wiley keeper Kevin Nievas pulled off the diving side to deny Mulero. The resulting save was poorly cleared to Santiago Molina on the edge of the box who volleyed the clearance straight into the back of the Wildcat net.
 
Carey dominated possession after the goal, as they went in search of a second goal. Lewis Green brought the ball out from the back and fired a ball into Molina's feet. Molina produced an excellent stepover to allow the ball to run into the feet of Pedro Sao Tiago right behind him. Tiago then released Milos Stajkovic down the left-hand side with one touch and sent him barreling down the wing. Stajkovic sent a cross into the box but was sent just over the head of Guerrero at the back post and out for a throw-in on the opposite side.
 
Carey pressed high on the resulting throw-in and won the ball back immediately. The ball fell to Teddy Miranda who crossed the ball in to Molina at the backpost. Molina found himself on the floor but excellently wriggled the ball through two defenders and lofted the ball over a sprawling Nievas to double Carey's lead.
 
Wiley grew into the game as the half went on, enjoying sustained spells of possession and threatening to create chances. Carey's defense held firm, only allowing the Wildcats a solitary shot on target from distance that was easily saved by Jamie Barry in the Crusader net.
 
Carey threatened as the dominant side throughout the rest of the half. Their most promising chance came on the counter but they were unable to make the best of a 3-vs-2 situation as their final pass couldn't unlock Wiley's defense.
 
Carey controlled the beginning of the second half but it was Wiley who had the better opportunities. Two freekicks from Anthony Ulloa tested Barry but the Carey keeper came out on top on both occasions.
 
Lightning sent the game into an hours delay, giving both teams a chance to regroup and decide how they would attack the last 30 minutes of the game. It would be Carey that came out from the break with a rocket strapped to their backs and took the game to the Wildcats.
 
5 minutes after the restart and Molina had his hattrick. Carey pressed aggressively on Wiley's goal kick as Molina intercepted a pass on the edge of the Wildcats box. Molina took a touch, beat his defender, and drilled his shot low under Nievas.
 
Carey smelled blood and continued to go on the attack in search of goals. Their efforts paid off as with 9 minutes left on the clock Carey picked up their fourth and wiped away any chance of a Wiley comeback. Rico Duggan won the ball off a poor touch from Jayce Graves, took a touch out his feet to draw in the last defender, and slipped in Felix Rocca. Rocca drove at goal and tucked the ball past Nievas.
 
WCU's relentless press paid off once again as they won the ball back almost immediately following the kickoff, winning a corner in the process. Callum Black's inswinging corner onto the top of the Wiley goalkeeper caused havoc, allowing Rocca to sneak in and flick the ball into the net to grab his second goal in two minutes and put the icing on the cake for the Crusaders.
 
WCU are back in action Saturday, September 20^th as they host Central Baptist College. That game is set to get underway at 7:00 PM at Danny Owens Field.