SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer team will host Central Arkansas for a non-conference match Friday at 8 p.m. at Benson Stadium.

The Cardinals (3-2) are coming off a 1-1 weekend at Grand Canyon University where they faced Sacramento State and Wisconsin-Green Bay. They fell 2-1 to the Hornets and shutout the Phoenix 2-0. They have scored eight goals this season and are averaging 11.8 shots per game. Senior midfielder Noah Keats (Exeter, Eng./The King's School) leads the team in goals with four, which is also second best in the Western Athletic Conference.  He is the current WAC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring two goals, including a game-winning goal against Green Bay.

UIW is hosting a Central Arkansas team whom they beat 2-1 on the road on September 6.  UCA led 1-0 up until the 81^st minute, but the Cardinals scored two late goals to turn it around and take the win.  The UIW defense is led by senior goalkeeper Kieran O'Boyle (Blackpool, Eng./St. Mary's Catholic) who has made 24 saves and has a 0.80 goals against average.

The Bears (1-4) are on a current 2-game losing streak, which started with the 2-1 loss to the Cardinals earlier in the season. They then lost 2-1 to the University of Missouri-Kansas City and are now looking to get back on track. They are 0-2 on the road where they will play their next five games. They have scored four goals on the year and have given up 11. They are averaging 13 shots per game and allowing 13.6. All four goals have come from junior forward, Wes Carson.

The Bears are part of the Missouri Valley Conference and were picked to finish last in the preseason coaches' poll. They have seven starters back in the lineup from 2014 and will start conference games October 3 against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

The Cardinals open conference play on September 30 at home against CSU Bakersfield.
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