Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's soccer team handed visiting Texas A&M-International a heavy defeat on Thursday night, winning 6-0 at the Benson Stadium.

The Cardinals (2-0-0) have started the 2013 season in fine fashion with a pair of easy home wins. The early stages of the game with the Dustdevils (0-1) seemed to be evenly matched, as both sides made efforts to move the ball forward, but it was the Cardinals who eventually took control, constantly pressing forward and proving too much for the Dustdevils defense.

After a number of attempts on goal, Incarnate Word was finally rewarded from a corner kick in the 19^th minute, taken by senior Katie Miller (Tyler/Tyler JC).  As the ball entered the box it was deflected out to defender Mikaela Noriega (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) who was set up at the top of the box ready to chip the deflection over the keepers head and into the back of the net.

The pace was set, and despite efforts from A&M-International, the Cardinals defensive line held strong to prevent them from breaking through.  The second goal of the game came 10 minutes before the end of the half and was set up by a cross into the box from senior Sydney Solomon (Schertz/Randolph HS).   Freshman Abigail Koenigs (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) diving header sealed goal number two for an impressive Cardinals side and was the first of her career.

The second half saw no change as Incarnate Word kept the pressure on and made it clear that they were the better side.  Their third goal came only one and half minutes into the half from Solomon, who had been hungry for a goal from the onset.  With the ball played into the center, Solomon fired a strong shot into the top right corner of the net.

It was then made clear that there was no comeback on the cards for the Dustdevils as Miller made it 4-0 a few minutes later. Dribbling the ball up the center of the pitch in a one-on-one face off, the senior took it past the defender to drive it into the right hand corner again.  

The fifth goal was set up by a cross from Solomon into the box to Miller who easily beat the goalkeeper.   After a continuous rotation of substitutes for the Cardinals and a few injuries for both sides, the final goal came from midfielder Megan Baker (Pflugerville/Hendrickson HS), who took on two defenders to shoot from 15 yards out with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

UIW goalkeepers Heather Kowalik (Boerne/Champion HS) and Karly Brightwell (Houston/Elkins HS) combined on a shutout.  The Cardinals took 17 shots to only two for the Dustdevils and had nine corner kicks while TAMIU had none.  Katelin Jennings played all 90 minutes for TAMIU in goal and made six saves.

The Cardinals host Texas Southern University on September 6^th at 7 p.m.
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