SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's soccer team fought for another tie against the visiting Lamar Cardinals on Sunday afternoon at Benson Stadium for the last home game of the season.
The UIW Cardinals (2-11-3, 2-4-3) played relentlessly through the entire match. After two early offside calls for each team, Lamar started to be the aggressor. Lamar (4-11-2, 2-6-2) took eight shots compared to UIW's six in the first half. UIW had several opportunities arise but could not get on the board.
"Both teams had some good chances," said UIW head coach
Anne Felts. "We were both just unable to finish. Out back four and
Heather Kowalik were very solid for our second consecutive shutout."
In the eighth minute,
Amanda Watkins (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) attacked the goal and dropped the keeper in an attempt to score. However, Lamar keeper Bailey Fontenot blocked her shot and the one that quickly followed by
Alexis Santos (Mesquite/North Mesquite HS) when the ball rebounded off Fontenot's chest. Incarnate Word gave up three corner kicks in the first 45 minutes and only took one the entire match.
The most threatening chance for LU came five minutes into the second half when Jannet Hernandez took a shot from inside the box that got past UIW keeper
Heather Kowalik (Boerne/Champion HS), but hit the inside of the post and bounced back out. Lamar continued to create chances for themselves and finished regulation time with 15 more shots while UIW added four in the second half. Watkins, Santos, and
Abigail Koenigs (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) collaborated for the shots in the remainder of regulation time.
Once into overtime, both Cardinal teams battled evenly and held possession of the ball. Incarnate Word did outshoot Lamar in extra time, four to three. With seven minutes left on the board,
Jazma Latu (San Antonio/Johnson HS) found the ball inside the box and got past two LU defenders to shoot on the goal. However, her shot from eight yards out was deflected by Bailey just enough for the ball to hit the post.
Lamar took a total 26 shots, but only was able to put three on goal. UIW fired off 14 shots with six on goal. Kowalik had three saves while Fontenot had six saves. It was the third shutout of the season for Kowalik.
The Cardinals will be traveling for their last two games of the season to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA for Friday's match at 7 p.m. They then will travel to Nacogdoches, TX to face the Southland Conference defending champions, Stephen F. Austin on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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