SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer team opened up their first Western Athletic Conference season Friday night with a strong 3-0 shutout against Houston Baptist University at Benson Stadium.
           
For the first time since 2012, the Cardinals (2-6, 1-0) earned a home victory that boasted a quality performance against the Huskies (1-4-2, 0-1).  By the halfway point, UIW had already secured a 2-0 lead with goals from Andrew Grossman (Arlington/Mansfield Summit HS) and Noah Keats (Exeter, England/The Kings School) leaving their opponents with an uphill battle.
           
"It is nice to start the conference schedule with a win," said UIW head coach Vince Martinez.  "It was a team effort and it was really nice to get the shutout.  We have conceded a number of gift-wrapped goals this year so it was good to see that our hard work this week on defense and organization at the back worked well."
           
Grossman's goal was not only the first of the game, but also the first of the season for the defender.  It came in the 11^th minute of play when he slotted the ball past the keeper after Keats delivered the ball into the box from a corner kick.  The Cardinals and the Huskies were able to exchange a just few shots before some impressive set-up play from Dylan Kelly (Tucson, AZ/Salpointe Catholic) provided Keats with a shooting opportunity from inside the penalty area.  Keats proceeded to hammer the ball home and double the Cardinals lead in the 22^nd minute.  

Throughout the game Kelly was a constant threat and led the line extremely well for the Cardinals, creating a number of opportunities for both him and the team.  "He wasn't on his game at the start of the season, but he has been a completely different player the past four games," said Martinez.  "We had some talks and he has become the forward we loved and recruited two years ago.  I couldn't be more happy for Dylan."
           
Fresh from the half time break, a rejuvenated HBU squad gained some momentum as they looked to cut into the deficit.  Leading scorer Patrick Toh had one of the best chances for the visitors when he found space inside the Cardinals penalty area only to place the ball wide of the near post.  In reply, some skillful work from Kelly saw him trick his way between and around two defenders only to find his shot also glance narrowly wide of the post.
           
Hungry to score another goal and keep a comeback thoroughly out of reach, UIW continued to create a number of scoring chances.  Keats sealed the game in the 78^th minute with a shot that found its way into the back of the net via a deflection from a Huskies defender.  He came up with a loss ball near the top of the box and then deftly went around two defenders before unleashing the shot.
           
During the contest, the Cardinals outshot the Huskies 14-9 and had seven shots on goal to HBU's three.  UIW goalkeeper Kieran O'Boyle (Blackpool, England/St Mary's Catholic College) earned his first career shutout with three saves while HBU goalkeeper Kevin Suarez made four saves.

The Cardinals and the Huskies are both back in action next week as they meet again on Saturday October 11 in a reverse fixture that promises to be exciting.  They kick off at 7 p.m. at Sorrels Field.
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