SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Two first-half goals proved to be enough for San Jose State to defeat the University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer team, 2-1, Sunday at Benson Stadium.

It was an intense 90 minutes from both sides that saw a lot of physical and strong play.  Both squads shared the ball about evenly in the first half, but heavy pressure from the SJSU forwards created a lot of turnovers that turned into goal opportunities.

It did not take long for the Spartans (3-6, 1-0) to get on the board as some defensive miscues left the ball on the feet of the Spartans' leading scorer, Rory Knibbs, in the ninth minute.  Knibbs beat two UIW defenders and then finally beat the keeper for his fifth goal of the season.

The Cardinals (5-3, 1-1) created many chances for goal in the first half, but none of them clearer than when Dylan Kelly (Tucson, AZ/Salpointe Catholic HS) received a long ball from Noah Keats (Exeter, Eng/The King's School) in the box, fired a shot that the SJSU keeper, Emmanuel Espinoza saved in the 20th minute.

In the 41st minute, SJSU's Andrew Mendoza had the ball in the box when he got fouled and the team was awarded a penalty kick.  Knibbs took it and scored his sixth goal of the season to make it 2-0 right before halftime.

The second half saw many missed opportunities for the Cardinals on the offensive side.  In total, the Cardinals attempted 13 shots with and seven on goal.  In the 61st minute, Kelly controlled a long pass with his chest—with his back facing the goal—and played a masterful pass to Keats who fired a shot with his left foot that beat the keeper to the near post.

Two more big chances came in the 83rd and 86th minutes when Kelly nearly tied the game for the Cardinals on long crosses from Jonathan Camarena (El Paso/Del Valle HS) and Ben Conway (WIgan, Eng/Hawkley Hall), respectively.

Keats' goal was his eighth of the season, but it would not be enough for the Cardinals to complete the comeback.

UIW will look to get back on the winning track as they go on the road to face two Western Athletic Conference opponents in UM-Kansas City and Air Force, Thursday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. respectively.
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