FOLEY, Ala. – The Lady Crusaders picked up a top 10 win as they knocked off #8 SCAD Savanna 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Carey jumped on the game early, going on the attack. WCU earned themselves a free kick on the right of their attacking third. Boo Mills stepped up but drove her shot high over the bar.
 
The Lady Crusaders next chance came in the 15^th minute, courtesy of Lesley Vasquez. Alessia Navarro spotted Vasquez in the middle of the box, squared her the ball but Vasquez could only send her shot just wide of the left-hand post.
 
Not 3 minutes later and Carey had their goal. Mills played a long ball down the left channel for Karen Vilau to run onto. Vilau drove at the defender into the 18 yard box, cut past the defender, and buried the ball into the top right corner.
 
SCAD's best chance came off a quick transition. Cali Wuestefeld stole the ball in the middle of the Crusader half. Wuestefeld spotted Nerea Pallas Padilla off her line and attempted to lob the ball over her but could only direct her effort wide off the right-hand post.
 
35 minutes in and Carey had the 2^nd they deserved with Mills the architect again. Another long ball over the top released Vasquez in behind. Vasquez brought the ball under her spell before providing a deft little toe poke to outsmart the onrushing Saga Bryntesson and send WCU on their way.
 
90 seconds into the second half and Carey had the chance to put the game to bed. Virginia Mesa threaded a pass through to Navarro. Navarro ran in on goal, but found her effort well saved by Bryntesson.
 
SCAD grew into the second half, troubling the Carey defense with some direct running and willingness to shoot from distance. Ida Akesson took aim from 20 yards out but found her effort well saved from a diving Padilla. SCAD then had back-to-back corners following the save but were unable to capitalize.
 
From the second corner it was Navarro again at the heart of the Carey attack. Carey cleared the ball from the corner to Navarro on the edge of the box. Navarro then drove down the field, surging from box-to-box, before squaring the ball to Vasquez on the edge of the SCAD penalty area. The recovering Bee's defenders were able to swarm Vasquez enough to stop her getting a clean shot on goal, giving Bryntesson an easy save to make.
 
64 minutes and SCAD found their lifeline. Vera Wikstrom drove down their left-hand side before cutting back and sending a cross into the box. Livia Pertl's clearance struck Elsa Johansson and the ball fell kindly into her path. Johansson opened her hips and struck the ball across goal into the top-right corner to half the deficit.
 
Carey continued to control the game and strung together some nice passages of play but were unable to find the killer pass to help put the game to bed. WCU looked to take advantage of SCAD's high line, but again, were unable to make that final play. With 7 minutes to go, WCU looked like they were finally about to put the game to bed but were unable to seal the finish. Vasquez threaded the needle to send Navarro through on goal. Navarro strode onto the pass, took a touch to bring the ball under her control, but could only find the body of Bryntesson in the SCAD net before the ball was ultimately cleard from danger.
 
With time running down, SCAD's last, and best, chance came from a Carey mistake. Vilau attempted to acrobatically intercept a long, Crossfield ball from the SCAD left-back. Vilau's touch unfortunately fell to the feet of Akesson. Akesson drove in on goal and looked to have scored a late equalizer for the Bee's had it not been for an outstanding reflex save from Padilla.
 
WCU are back in action on Saturday, September 13^th as they host Xavier (La.) That game is scheduled for a 5:00 PM kick off at Danny Owens Field.