SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer team opened up the 2015 season with a 3-0 victory over visiting Oral Roberts University on Saturday night at Benson Stadium.
Senior
Noah Keats (Exeter, Eng./The Kings' School) gave the Cardinals (1-0) a first half lead when he corralled a rebound and had an empty net to tap in the first goal of the game.
Jonathan Camarena (El Paso/Del Valle HS) took the initial shot that was deflected away by Ben LaCourse before Keats recovered the loose ball and scored in the 25
th minute. Camarena was credited with the assist.
The Golden Eagles (0-1) stepped up their attack over the final 10 minutes of the first half. They nearly scored late in the half, but defender
Alfredo Zendejas (El Paso/Vista Grande HS) saved a ball off the end line to preserve the shutout. UIW took a 1-0 lead into the half and came out with a high intensity in the second half. They took seven shots in the half and kept the majority of the possession to secure their first win of the season.
In the 71
st minute,
Ben Conway (Wigan, Eng./Hawkley Hall) dribbled through a number of defenders and finished beautifully into the lower right corner of the net to double the lead.
Six minutes later, the Cardinals would score the definitive goal on a highlight film play.
Alex Hoyl (Dallas/Highland Park HS) sent a deep ball into the offensive third where
Dylan Kelly (Tucson, AZ/Salpointe Catholic HS) flicked it toward the center of the box to Keats. Keats one-touched a perfect pass to Camarena who chipped the goalkeeper for the final goal of the game.
Oral Roberts outshot the Cardinals, 12-11, but UIW goalkeeper
Kieran O'Boyle (Blackpool, Eng./St. Mary's Catholic College) turned in a clean sheet with four saves.
The teams will face one another again on Friday night, but this time the Golden Eagles will play host to the Cardinals. ORU beat UIW in both matches in 2014 so the Cardinals will be looking to even it up with a season sweep when they travel to Tulsa, OK.
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