HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The William Carey men's soccer team outlasted the University of Mobile in a defensive battle Friday afternoon at Danny Owens Field, earning a 1-0 victory to advance to the semifinals of the SSAC Championship.
The Crusaders took control early and struck just seven minutes into the match.
Fabian Arroyo delivered a long ball over the Mobile defense to
Souleymane Balde, who beat his defender and fired a shot into the bottom corner past the Ram goalkeeper to give Carey a 1-0 lead. The goal would prove to be the difference in the contest.
Carey continued to dictate play for much of the opening half, though the Mobile defense remained resilient. The Crusaders recorded 10 shots, including two on target, during the first 45 minutes. Defensively, William Carey was equally impressive, limiting the Rams to just four shots and one shot on goal.
The second half mirrored the first, with both teams relying on strong defensive efforts. Scoring opportunities were at a premium as the two sides combined for only three shots on target after halftime. Neither team was able to find a breakthrough, allowing the Crusaders to secure the 1-0 victory and a spot in the conference semifinals.
William Carey now turns its attention to the SSAC Championship semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex. The Crusaders will face UT Southern with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
