JACKSON - The Millsaps Majors unofficially started the 2012 season on Friday in a home scrimmage against Cardinal Stritch.

For Millsaps, it was their first action against competition other themselves while for the Crusaders, it was the first game of the regular season this year. For Head Coach Lee Johnson, he was very pleased with his Majors in their first outing.

"Overally, we played really well," said Johnson. "We started a little skittish, but once we settled down, we played very good soccer."

The game started with heavy rains pounding Harper Davis Field. The Majors put together a great first half, getting good looks offensively and playing extremely well defensively. The Major defense only held the Crusaders to one shot in the first half. The teams went into half scoreless.

The Crusaders, who kept their starters in for the entire game, eventually put two goals on the board and took the 2-0 win.

However, Johnson looks at the bigger picture and sees how well his team played as a unit.

"They strung some passes together well, they did everything we asked them to do, the work rate was good, and the physical side of the game was good," adds Johnson. "Overall, it was a good night."

Millsaps was even with Cardinal Stritch on shot with five a piece. Senior Hunter Creech fired two shots while senior Taylor Harrison, sophomore Chase Ming, and sophomore Chucky Hayden all fired one.

Senior John Robertson picked up the one and only save in goal.

As the first game is now six days away, Johnson is looking for some improvement between now and their battle against Fontbonne.

"We need to calm down a little bit and work off each other as well as movement off the ball," says Johnson. "Our shape in the middle also needs to improve and we need to take some chances."

The Majors first game in Memphis begins at 2 p.m.