OMAHA, NEBRASKA – The University of the Incarnate Word women's soccer team dropped a second straight 2-0 decision to open the 2014 season.  Creighton University scored a goal in each half to grab the win at Morrison Stadium on Sunday.

The Blue Jays (2-0-0) got on the board in the fourth minute.  They earned a corner kick that was taken by Kirstyn Corder and flicked on by Stephanie Anasi to Lauren Sullivan who finished on the right side into an open net at 3:47.  Creighton had a few more chances to score in the first half, but Cardinals (0-2-0) goalkeeper Karly Brightwell (Houston/Elkins HS) was strong making five saves.

Early in the second half, the Cardinals had a couple of chances to tie the game.  Both Nikki Popa (San Antonio/Reagan HS) and Sarah Johnson (Austin/Home School) had one-on-one opportunities against Blue Jay goalkeeper Danielle Rice.  Rice made one save and the other shot went high over the bar.

Creighton added on to their lead in the 55^th minute.  They drew a foul in the box leading to a penalty kick.  Madelyn Buckner calmly slotted it home at 54:22 to make it 2-0.
The Cardinals continued to fight and forced Rice to make a pair of saves after the penalty kick, but could not find an opening to score.  The Blue Jays attempted 16 shots to seven for the Cardinals.  The UIW defense did a good job of creating 10 off-side calls against the home team.

"The score doesn't reflect how well we are playing right now," said UIW head coach Anne Felts.  "We are a completely different team from what we were a week or two weeks ago.  Some freshmen have really stepped up in the last week and started performing that way we thought they would.  It has been fun to watch them come out of their shells."

Rice earned the win for the Blue Jays with four total saves en route to a shutout.  She was able to stymie four one-on-one opportunities for UIW during the game. Brightwell was handed the loss and finished with five saves.  Haley Nelson (Jackson, NE/Bishop Heelan Catholic HS) played in goal the full 45 minutes of the second half and made a pair of saves for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals are back in action on Friday at UT-El Paso at 8 p.m.
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