SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer team hits the road this weekend for a pair of Western Athletic Conference matches.  They take on Utah Valley on Friday at 5 p.m. and then continue on to Seattle University for a 3 p.m. Sunday contest.

The Wolverines (6-6-1, 2-3-1) are in their first year as a program, but have played like a veteran unit.  They have allowed one goal or less in all but one match this year and have the stingiest defense in the conference.  Collin Partee is the team's goalkeeper and he has a 0.83 goals against average with 49 saves and two shutouts.  Matt Gay is the team's top offensive threat with six goals and four assists.  Karson Payton has chipped in with three goals and two assists.

The Redhawks (8-5-1, 3-2-1) were picked to win the conference in the preseason and are currently in third place behind the Cardinals and UNLV.  They have allowed just one goal in their eight wins, but 17 in their five losses.  They have a balanced attack that is led by Hamza Haddadi and Brady Ballew who each have four goals and an assist.  Shane Haworth has played every minute of the season in goal and has a 1.32 GAA with 7.0 shutouts.

The Cardinals (6-7, 5-1) have been one of the hottest teams in the WAC.  Despite playing without leading scorer Noah Keats the past two weeks, they have gone 3-1 against WAC opponents.  Dylan Kelly (Tucson, AZ/Salpointe Catholic HS), Alex de la Garza (Mission/Sharyland HS) and Ben Conway (Wigan, Eng./Hawkley Hall) have all stepped up their play on the offensive end.  Kelly leads the team with five goals and three assists while de la Garza has four goals and four assists and Conway has four goals and an assist. 

The Cardinals defense has taken shape with Joe Brown (Nottingham, Eng./The Becket School) and Alex Hoyl (Dallas/Highland Park HS) holding down the central defense and Andrew Grossman (Arlington/Mansfield Summit HS) stepping in as a holding midfielder.  Kieran O'Boyle (Blackpool, Eng./St. Mary's Catholic) has been playing well in goal lowering his goals against average to 1.32 while making 47 saves with 3.0 shutouts.
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