CONWAY, ARKANSAS – The University of the Incarnate Word women's soccer got a late goal from
Amanda Watkins to lead the team to a 1-0 victory at Southland Conference rival Central Arkansas on Sunday.
The Cardinals (1-10, 1-3) received an outstanding performance from junior goalkeeper
Heather Kowalik (Boerne/Champion HS). She was credited with a season high seven saves in the match and stopped a 32
nd minute penalty kick by Alex Wurst. She did get some help on the shutout from her defense that saved a pair Central Arkansas shots off the goal line, including one in the 85
th minute.
UIW took a total of ten shots in the match with five coming in each half. The Cardinals goal came in the 81
st minute when
Megan Baker (Pflugerville/Hendrickson HS) played it in from the wing and Watkins blasted it in from 12 yards out.
Kathryn Mundy and Watkins led the team with three shots apiece.
"I am so proud of the girls for this result today," said UIW head coach
Anne Felts. "They have been able to stay positive and work to get better every day the result. We talked before the game about doing whatever it took to win the game and they really left everything on the field."
The Bears (1-2-1 SLC, 5-5-2 overall) took nine more shots than the Cardinals with 11 coming in the first half. They had six players attempt at least four shots with Cassie Lange firing off four shots.
The Cardinals were able to withstand 13 corner kicks by the Bears. The defensive back line stood strong all game long and forced UCA into 13 offside calls. The shutout was the first of the season for the team and first since November 1, 2013 when they shutout Northwestern State in a 5-0 win. "We had to move some players around because of injuries," said Felts, "but everyone stepped up and player their part."
The Cardinals will play their next game at Benson Stadium against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday at 7 p.m. They will then travel to Houston Baptist to face the Huskies on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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