UPDATE: PAUL BRACKEN

After nearly 2 months in the US, Scholarship Sports USA's Paul Bracken has adapted to life at William Carey University with consummate ease. A trivial issue of a letter held back Paul's eligibility, meaning he had to miss a handful of early season games. Finally, the NAIA cleared Paul and he made his long awaited debut for William Carey away to Wiley College at Pemberton Soccer Field, in Marshall, Texas. The Crusaders outshot the Wildcats 27-14, with Bracken racking up 8 shots, 4 of which on target, but ultimately WCU could only come away with a 0-0 draw.

Paul's introduction to US college soccer was a positive one, and with the all important minutes under his belt, he came into the clash with Millsaps College in full confidence. In the 65th minute of the game Bracken opened his WCU account with a tidy finish from an assist off the boot of Alejandro Vergara. WCU ran out 2-0 winners and improved their record to 4-1-1. The goal meant a lot to Paul and he vowed, "there will be plenty more where that came from".

We didn't have to wait long for Paul to keep his promise, as in the very next game Bracken was on hand to open the scoring in the 20th minute at Crusader Field, in a non-conference bout against the University of Huston-Victoria. WCU eventually won the game 4-1 moving their record to an impressive 5-1-1 on the season. Its no surprise to anyone at SSU that Paul is producing the levels we knew he was capable of. He will have a great career in the USA, and William Carey can be proud of their latest Irish addition.

Paul & WCU are back in action on October 1st, when they open up SSAC play with an away fixture in Alabama, against Faulkner University (5-2). WCU were ranked 28th in the latest Coaches Poll in the NAIA, and ranked 1st in the 2nd edition of the SSAC Conference Poll. To keep up-to-date with Paul and the Crusaders follow @SSUSAOfficial on Twitter.