After a disappointing 1-1 draw on Friday night, the Incarnate Word men's soccer team hosted West Texas A&M University on Sunday needing to get back into the win column.
However, WTAMU scored first, taking advantage of a misplayed ball in the UIW defensive third in the 8th minute putting the Cardinals in a hole early.
But, much to the pleasure of head coach Vincent Martinez, the team responded to the early adversity and stormed back with two goals of their own in the first half.
“It was great to see our guys handle that early mistake and respond so well,” Martinez said. “Fighting through that adversity really showed our guys' will to win.”
Carlos Picado got things going for UIW, taking a pass from Vinny Bailey near the top of the box and, while shielding a defender, turning and firing a shot past the goalkeeper at 37:09.
Picado then went on to set up teammate Edgar Alvarez just 40 seconds later, chipping a pass to the charging Alvarez inside the penalty area which Alvarez buried far post for the 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals remained in the lead, 2-1, until the final minute of play when Picado, again, set up a teammate – this time giving a perfect pass to Julien Brown-Latham on a 3-on-2, which Latham knocked into the net without any trouble for the 3-1 lead.
In all, UIW (7-1-1 overall, 2-0-1 Lone Star Conference) out-shot 17 to 5.
The Cardinals will be on the road Friday night for a 7 p.m. contest at Northeastern State.
