SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word won most of the loose ball battles and was aggressive on offense, but a pair of Northwestern State goals three minutes apart in the second half gave the Lady Demons a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals Friday evening from Benson Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UIW (2-7-0 overall, 1-3 SLC) scored the game's first goal in the 10^th minute, as Ana Campa sent a beautiful pass from midfield towards Brooke Hanson. It was a race to the ball between Hanson and Lady Demon (5-6-0, 1-3) netminder Alex Latham. Hanson got a touch on the ball and flipped it over Latham's head into the back of the net.

In the 20^th minute, Northwestern State was awarded a corner kick. Payton Roney took the corner and sent a great ball into the box. UIW keeper, Sydney Huntsinger, battled for the ball and her momentum took her out of position. Esdeina Gonzalez quickly shot the ball, but was blocked by a wall of four Cardinals for a team save, keeping the hosts up 1-0.

Isabella Beletic had a pair of header attempts; one wide and the other saved by Latham. UIW outshot the Lady Demons, 7-5, in the first half.

UIW saw a much more aggressive Northwestern State team to start the second half. Three minutes into the second half, Taylor Husfeld made an outstanding defensive play to halt a Northwestern State breakaway, as Cache' Haley could not get a shot off.

Northwestern State's luck changed in the 73^rd minute, as Brittany Caserma scored on a mirror image to UIW's goal, as she chipped the ball over a charging Huntsinger to knot the match at one-all.

Caserma would strike again three minutes later on a corner kick from Jasmine Juarez. UIW was outshot, 4-1, in the second half, and 9-8 in the match. Corner kicks were 7-5 in favor of the Cardinals.

LEADERS

Hanson led UIW with two shots on goal, while Beletic also registered two shots, with one hitting the target. Huntsinger made one save in the loss in goal.

Caserma led all players with two goals and three shots. Both of Gonzalez's shots were on goal. Latham stopped four shots in goal.

UP NEXT

UIW looks for its first win at home when the Cardinals host Central Arkansas Sunday at 1 p.m.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals hit the road to play HBU on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on Incarnate Word Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow Incarnate Word Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like Incarnate Word Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.