NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Life U 3, William Carey 1
Records: Life U, 15-1-2 (8-1-0 SSAC); William Carey, 14-4-2 (7-1-1 SSAC)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Life University men's soccer team captured the SSAC Championship late Saturday night with a win over William Carey. Manuel Carrillo scored the go ahead goal while Luka Andrijic provided the late insurance.
It was the Crusaders to open the scoring in Montgomery. In the 28th minute of action, William Carey took a 1-0 lead after a pair of clean passes inside the 18.
Kaito Nakayama leveled the contest in the 38th minute with a brilliant strike. For the second game in a row, the senior drilled a strike into the bottom-left corner of the net. The cross into the box from Enrico Burigotto gave Nakayama the perfect set up for the equalizer.
Now with a 1-1 score line, it appeared that the game would be tied at the break. However, with eight seconds left in the half, Augusto Del Rio played a long ball from midfield towards Manuel Carrillo. At the top of the 18, Carrillo made a brilliant touch inside and buried the ball into the top-right corner with just one second left in the half.
Out of the half leading 2-1, Life U continued to hunt an insurance goal. Four corners in 90 seconds gave Life U plenty of chances but to no result. Nakayama also had a shot saved and Vicente Cuquerella pushed a chance wide in the early minutes.
Luka Andrijic had a stand out moment late for the Running Eagles, scoring the insurance goal in the 77th minute. In his first appearance for Life U this season, the senior slotted home the pass from Carrillo after a William Carey giveaway on the defensive end. The goal served as the final nail in the coffin for the contest.
The remaining minutes became a formality, as the Running Eagles captured their second SSAC Tournament Championship in four years.
"Great result and well deserved. A set back didn't shake this team and its belief in its mission," said Head Coach Alex Pama. "These guys quickly rise to legendary status in our long history of men's soccer at Life University. A programs's first double, after winning the regular season earlier. I am especially happy for Senior Luka Andrijic who had the final goal and sealed the victory for us. He deserves a special shout out as these were his first minutes on the first team. Now we get ready for the big tournament and the quest for the big ring. We have some time to prepare and await the selection show to see who we will face."
Up next, Life U will advance to the NAIA National Tournament. The team awaits its seeding for its next opponent.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--Life U out shot the Crusaders 14-6 in the contest.
--The Running Eagles had seven corners while William Carey had zero.
--It was another extremely physical contest, with 28 fouls and six yellow cards.
TURNING POINT:
--Manuel Carrillo gave Life U all the momentum, scoring with 00:01 left on the clock in the first half.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--Kaito Nakayama scored the first Life U goal.
--Manuel Carrillo scored a brilliant goal with one second left before the half and had an assist in the contest.
--In his first appearance this year, Luka Andrijic provided a massive insurance goal for Life U.
--Augusto Del Rio and Enrico Burigotto both recorded an assist in the contest.
