SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word hosted their first Southland Conference game of the season against Houston Baptist at Benson Stadium on Friday.  The Cardinals (2-7, 0-1) led 2-1 at halftime, but the Huskies (3-2-1, 1-0) scored twice in the last 11 minutes for the win.

The Cardinals started the game aggressively and were able to get on the board inside of 10 minutes.  UIW got on the scoreboard when a poor clearance landed at the feet of junior Abigail Koenigs (San Antonio/Brandeis HS), who took control of the ball outside of the box and fired it to the bottom left corner in the seventh minute.

Houston Baptist responded with strong possession and pressured UIW goalkeeperKarly Brightwell (Houston/Elkins HS).  They tied the game in the 21st minute when a cross from Gabby Rodriguez into box found Allison Abendschein for a header into the back of the net. 

Five minutes later, UIW's Emily Halal (Katy/Cinco Ranch HS) sent a ball to the left line for freshman speedster Emani Stewart (Victorville, CA/Hesperia HS).  Stewart outran the defender and then cut back toward into the box and fired a shot into the upper right corner to make it 2-1 Cardinals.

The Huskies controlled most of the second half, but the Cardinals had a chance nine minutes into the half to make it 3-1, but an HBU defender was able to save the ball off the end line. The Huskies immediately went on the counter attack and had a breakaway that caught the defense flat.  Addie Bachle (San Antonio/Johnson HS) came up big in the UIW defense by holding off three Huskies all the way to the end line.

The Cardinals could not hold on past the 78th minute when Jennifer Gebhardt took a free kick from 20 yards out on the left wing and sent it right over the UIW keeper for a goal.  Less than two minutes later, the Huskies took their first lead of the game.  A good cross into the box by Rodriguez set up a pinball effect.  The Huskies fired off three shots in quick succession and the third went in on a rebound by Sabriah Spencer.

The Cardinals were outshot, 19-10 by the Huskies.  The Huskies also earned nine corner kicks while UIW only attempted one.  Brightwell finished with six saves for UIW while her counterpart, Alanis Guevara, recorded three saves.

The Cardinals will play their next game at Southeastern Louisiana on September 25 at 7:00 p.m.
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