SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's soccer team earned their first draw of the season on Friday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Jazmine Latu (San Antonio/Johnson) scored her first goal of the season in the 82
nd minute to tie the Islanders at 1-1.
The Cardinals (1-10-1, 1-3-1) battled fiercely to earn the tie against the Islanders (2-5-3, 1-3-1) with a promising performance at Benson Stadium. Despite falling behind in the 21
st minute, the team rallied throughout the second half to create multiple chances culminating in scoring an equalizer with just over eight minutes left to go in regulation.
In the early stages of the game, the Cardinals had a pair of excellent scoring chances. Senior
Amanda Watkins (San Antonio/Brandeis) brought down a ball in the box and fired a shot from 10 yards out that called upon AMCC goalkeeper Megan Delaney to make a save from a bending volley. Just minutes later, Latu had her first chance of the game denied from a header that hit under the crossbar to bounce just outside of the goal line.
The Islanders scored soon after Latu's chance against the run of play. Jacey Love sent a long pass down the sideline to Hailey Sutton who sent a perfectly placed cross into the box to Yvette Franco who headed the ball past Cardinal goalkeeper
Heather Kowalik (Boerne/Champion) into the right side of the net.
The remainder of the half saw little action from both sides and set the platform for UIW to make a comeback. The Cardinals fired a total of seven shots in a period of relentless effort that resulted in many opportunities to level the competition. Finally, sophomore forward
Alexis Santos (Mesquite/North Mesquite HS) made a break down the left wing and passed the ball towards a cluster of players attempting to win possession. Watkins was able to get the ball out to Latu who shot the ball just over the reach of Delaney into the back of the net.
After 90 minutes, the game went into the first overtime period the Cardinals have seen this season and although each side was pushing for the victory neither was able to create the game-winning goal. The contest finished with the Cardinals outshooting the Islanders, 17-10 and also posted a 7-3 shots on goal advantage. Kowalik made a total of two saves, while Delaney was credited with six.
The Cardinals are back in action on Sunday as they head to Houston to play the Houston Baptist Huskies on Sunday. They kick off at 1 p.m.
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