The UIW women's soccer team isn't having a hard time scoring lately… it's just having a difficult time scoring more goals than the teams they are facing.
For the second straight contest, the Cardinals (2-0-2, 0-0-1 in the Lone Star Conference) played through two overtime periods and ended in a draw. Last Friday, it was against Truman State University in a 3-3 game at Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium. This Friday, it was a 1-1 tie against an Abilene Christian team that defeated the same Truman team, 4-2, last weekend.
But, this week, the ACU offense didn't penetrate the Cardinal goal once in the 13 on-goal attempts (Abilene had 25 total shots) through 110 minutes of play. In fact, ACU only got on the scoreboard because a clearing attempt by Incarnate Word on an Abilene Christian corner kick was accidentally headed into UIW's goal by a UIW player for a 40th minute own goal.
But, despite that tough pill to swallow just before halftime, the Cardinals battled back in the second frame and tied the score in the 77th minute, thanks to Angelica Carrizales, who scored her first-ever UIW goal after a pass from teammate Amanda Watkins. Watkins's pass found Carrizales at the top of the ACU penalty area and then Carrizales ripped a shot that got past the defender and beat the goalkeeper to the lower, right of the goal.
With thigns knotted up, the Cardinals and ACU battled through the two extra periods, but a game-winner could not be found and both squads now start their 2011 Lone Star Conference records with a tie at 0-0-1.
Hopefully, UIW can find a way to get off this two-game draw skid by Sunday, because the women will be on the road against Midwestern State in Wichita Falls for a noon contest.
