ALEXANDRIA, LA – A late second-half goal from Paul Adler pushed the Louisiana State University of Alexandria men's soccer team over No. 3 William Carey University, 2-1, in their season opener.
 
Adler's goal came inside the final 10 minutes when Zac le Stavri played a pass to Adler in the box. Adler slipped a shot past the Crusaders' keeper for a 2-1 advantage.
 
"It was a ball outside that we almost lost and were able to rebound it back towards the middle," Adler said. "He [le Stavri] slips it in and then a bit of a lucky one there [for me]. We worked two and a half weeks in the heat, and that's the reward we get."
 
Today's victory is LSUA's first over William Carey. Prior to today's match, LSUA was 0-9-0 against the Crusaders.
 
"It's a bit of history for the program," LSUA Head Coach Mackenzie Young said. "William Carey are an unbelievable team, coached very well, number three in the country, and in the running for a national championship every year for a reason. For us to kick off our season with a win at home against them, it's something I could never imagine. It's all down to these boys and what they put in day in and day out. I'm so proud of them."
 
The Crusaders were first to the scoreboard, however. Elisa Salminen laced a low shot from long range for a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute.
 
"It's one of those ones where we can only control what we can," Young said. "I think that was one of those freak accident moments in the game where we think the referee has called something and he hasn't, but we can't stop playing. We've gone off what we thought, and they took advantage of it; that's what a number three team in the nation does."
 
LSUA's equalizer came early in the second half. A handball inside the box gave way to a penalty goal from freshman Diego Cadabón.
 
"We got a bit of luck with getting a penalty," Young said. "Fair play to Diego, putting the shot on his back and putting the ball away for us."
 
Ivan Capurro made four saves in his LSUA debut, all of which came in the first half. Three of Capurro's saves came in the first 10 minutes of the contest to keep the score level at 0-0. The Generals held William Carey to just four shots in the second half and took eight of their own. The first-half shot totals were even at six apiece.
 
"Credit to the guys for clawing their way back," Young noted. "We got into them at halftime and told them to calm down. They played the way [we knew] they could and pressed well. After [Cadabón's goal], we had them on the ropes a bit. So proud of the guys and so proud of the effort."
 
LSUA hosts Mississippi College in an exhibition on Tuesday, August 26, at 3:00 PM.