William Carey defeated Faulkner 2-1 Saturday night in Montgomery, Alabama, to win the SSAC Tournament championship. It was the Crusaders’ fifth title in the tournament and their first since 2021.
Carey scored twice in the first 19 minutes. Souleymane Balde put the Crusaders ahead in the 11th minute with a shot from midfield. Fabian Arroyo made it 2-0 eight minutes later, sending a shot past Faulkner’s goalkeeper after collecting a loose ball outside the penalty area.
Faulkner cut the lead to 2-1 in the 43rd minute. Carey goalkeeper Pablo Diez made three saves in the first half, then helped preserve the advantage as Faulkner pressed after halftime. The Eagles took 11 second-half shots, five on goal.
Diez finished with eight saves, including five in the second half. He stopped Konsti Witte’s penalty kick in the 85th minute, keeping Carey in front. The Crusaders allowed one shot in the final minutes, according to the team’s account.
Carey coach Barry Farrell praised the team’s two early goals, saying they were among its best of the season. Diez said the team’s second-half effort helped secure the victory.
The Crusaders were scheduled to compete in the opening rounds of the NAIA National Tournament at campus sites Nov. 19-21.
