Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – It did not take long for the University of the Incarnate Word women's soccer team to get back to their winning ways after suffering a 3-0 loss on Sunday.  The Cardinals breezed past visiting UT-Permian Basin, 6-1 at Benson Stadium on Thursday night.

The Cardinals (6-1) scored early and often against the Falcons (0-6).  Freshman midfielder Abigail Koenigs (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) put the team up 1-0 just 3:28 into the match when she pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired a shot into the top of the net for her fourth goal of the season.

The Cardinals extended their lead to 2-0 in the 17^th minute.  Sophomore Megan Baker (Pflugerville/Hendrickson HS) found the ball at her feet in the middle of the field with no one around her.  She turned and fired a shot from 35 yards out that went just over the outstretched finger tips of the UTPB goalkeeper for her second goal of the season.

Late in the first half, the Cardinals put things away.  Senior Sydney Solomon (Schertz/Randolph HS) scored twice within a span of 50 seconds.  On the first goal, he received a pass near the top of the box, turned and made a move to get past a defender and score the goal at 40:10.  The second goal came when she beat a defender to a loose ball and then dribble past the goalkeeper at 41:00.  She now leads the team with five goals.

The Cardinals added another goal before the end of the half.  Freshman Marina Bermea (Odessa/Odessa HS) dribbled past her defender and got inside the box along the right goal line and rifled a pass to Amanda Watkins (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) who connected and scored on her first touch at 42:40.

In the second half, UIW head coach Tina Patterson went to her bench and played a total of 21 players.  The Falcons scored a goal at 64:21 when Mallory Martin got behind the defense for a breakaway goal after receiving the assist from Skylar Bluebird.  The Cardinals answered in the 79^th minute when freshman Alexis Santos (Mesquite/North Mesquite HS) dribbled past an opponent and the drilled a shot past the goalkeeper from 15 yards out.

The Cardinals outshot the Falcons, 17-0 in the first half and then each team had four shots in the second half.  UIW also had nine corner kicks to only one for UTPB.  Heather Kowalik (Boerne/Champion HS) got the win in goal for the Cardinals in playing the first 45 minutes.  Bridget Esquivel made three saves in the loss for the Falcons.

The Cardinals are back in action on Sunday at noon against Sam Houston State in the Southland Conference opener at Benson Stadium.
####
pr13431smm