HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Crusaders punched their ticket to Wichita, Kan. with an overtime win over Georgia Gwinnett 1-0 Saturday afternoon at Danny Owens Field.
A first half of very little action and few chances was dominated by fouls and physicality. Both teams tried to impose themselves physically, giving away numerous fouls and not allowing the other team to build momentum.
Carey's best chances came in the space of 20 seconds. Teddy Miranda played a ball into Billy Boag 25 yards out from goal. Boag did well to turn his defender and fire a shot at goal, forcing a save from Dagoberto Romero in the Grizzly goal. The save found its way out to Roberto Rangel wide on the left. Rangel fired a cross into an open Kolby Godbolt at the back post. Godbolt brought the fall down and fired at goal, only for Romero to make another diving save.
The Grizzlies best chance came off a corner midway through the half. Toufik Najem's corner fell to Evan Alvarez at the back post. Alvarez turned and shot straight into the arms of Henry Hampshaw.
The second half followed the same script as the first. Both teams committing plenty of fouls, not allowing the game to flow. Neither team was able to gain the upper hand as the number of stoppages in the game never allowed either team to gain any momentum.
Carey's best chance of the half came from a free kick 35 yards out. Caoimhin McConnell was brought down in the middle of the Grizzly half, setting up Joshua Salas. Salas struck the ball sweetly and sent the ball flying over the wall, unfortunately for the Crusaders the ball sailed just left of the goal.
Georgia Gwinnett's best chance came from a Crusader mistake. Alejandro Contrera took the ball from the WCU defender on the edge of the box. Contrera took a touch and fired a shot just wide of the Crusader right-hand post.
With the score tied at 0-0, the game was sent into overtime. Two 10-minute halves under golden goal rules. Whoever scored first wins the game. At a time where many coaches would be cautious, Coach Farrell sent a team out to go for the win early and that they did.
Less than two minutes into the first overtime and Carey found that elusive goal that had avoided them in the previous 90. The Crusaders worked the ball out wide to Jamie Wynne on the right-hand side. Wynne took a touch on to his right foot and fired the ball low across the six-yard box. Boag stormed the six-yard box and bundled the ball into the back of the net ahead of the encroaching Grizzly defender. Boag's goal sent the Crusader fans into pandemonium, sending the Crusaders to the final site of the NAIA National Tournament.
"So proud of the boys tonight." Said Coach Barry Farrell. "We had a great week of training. It was so important we won this game. Onto the final site now."
The Crusaders now progress to the Round of 16 at the final site of the NAIA National Tournament in Wichita, Kan. They will take on Indiana Wesleyan on December 3rd, time still to be determined.
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