#9 Aquinas falls to #1 William Carey in NAIA Quarterfinals Thriller

FOLEY, Ala. - (Box Score) A battle of unbeaten powerhouses pitted #9 Aquinas against #1 William Carey on Thursday in Alabama. William Carey boasted the top offense in the country while Aquinas boasted the top defense in the nation and it made for an exciting battle that came down to the wire. Unfortunately for the Saints, an unassisted goal in the 87th minute broke a 2-2 tie and gave William Carey the 3-2 win to advance to the semifinals. The loss marks the second year in a row the Saints have advanced to the quarterfinals and lost to the #1 team in the country. 

No. 1 William Carey (Miss.) def. No. 9 Aquinas (Mich.), 3-2

• William Carey (Miss.) got in behind the Saints defensive line for their best look on the day in the seventh minute, but Aquinas (Mich.) had everyone back for three goal line clearances as the Crusaders were unable to find net.
• Aquinas (Mich.) had good looks on goal through the first 25 minutes of the first half, but similar to William Carey (Miss.) they have not been able to find the go-ahead goal.
• The Saints broke through in the 29th minute as Brittney Probst switched the side of the field to find Maeva Lichtensteiger who chipped the Crusaders goalkeeper for the 1-0 lead.
• William Carey (Miss.) continued to apply pressure late in the first half with multiple chances on goal, but the national leader in fewest goals allowed this season proved to be a tough battle as the Crusaders continued to look for an answer.
• WCU was fouled just outside the 18-yard box in the 41st minute, Maria Azarias was called upon to take the free kick, in which she leveled the field as she found the bottom corner of the goal to knot this game up at 1-1 just before the break.
• The Saints went back on top in the 55th minute as Sandra Segovia and Brittney Probst found Macy Hollingsworth for the one time shot to lead top seeded William Carey (Miss.).
• Azarias once again took a free kick at the top of the box for the Crusaders to knot this game once again, but Kayla Shuk of AQ made a spectacular save to push it over the crossbar and keep the Saints on top.
• WCU continued to let the shots fly after that opportunity, but Shuk for Aquinas (Mich.) was on point making another great save to keep the margin in favor of the Saints.
• William Carey (Miss.) made Aquinas (Mich.) pay after a foul on the top of the box once again, Azarias took the kick and got the deflection to tie this game back up at 2-2, marking the first time all season that the Saints have conceded multiple goals in a game.
• The Crusaders for the first time in this quarterfinal game have the lead in the 88th minute as Mariangela Jimenez found Christina Salmon around the pk stripe for the goal and the 3-2 lead.