Box Score RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA – The University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer team topped the UC Riverside Highlanders with an impressive 2-0 win on the road on Saturday.

This weekend the Cardinals (3-3) went west to sunny California to secure a confident 2-0 victory against the odds.  The Highlanders (5-2-2) were unbeaten before this week, but after a 3-0 loss against top Division I side UCLA on Thursday, they fell to the Cardinals thanks to a pair of goals in the first half.

Midfielder Alex De La Garza (Mission/Sharyland HS)) was the first to score for UIW, after Jonathan Camarena (El Paso/Del Valle HS) delivered a cross from the right. De La Garza took possession of the ball and stroked it home on the third attempt, finding a gap between the goal keepers' legs after a scramble in front of the goal mouth.

The second and final goal for the Cardinals came only three minutes before the half time whistle, as midfielder Victor Pinal (Dallas/Skyline HS) set up forward Leon Taylor (Dallas/Plano West HS) to take advantage of a defensive error from goal keeper, KC John, who was out of position.  Taylor volleyed the ball from 30 yards to find the back of the net.

The Cardinals held strong in the second half, creating more chances to extend the lead with Dylan Kelly (Tucson, AZ/Salpointe Catholic HS) and De La Garza making attempts on goal that required John to make two important saves.  Although UC Riverside outshot the Cardinals in the second half, 11-9, they could not make a comeback.

UIW head coach Vince Martinez was pleased with his team's performance.  He said, "I feel it was a very good team effort as well as the most complete game we have played all season.  I am excited for our team and looking forward to more challenges this year."

The Cardinals are back on the road again next weekend for another tough fixture against the University of Dayton in Ohio. They play on Friday at 6 p.m.
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