SAN ATNONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer team had another amazing run in their second season as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. The season was filled with lots of ups, downs, and in between as UIW's record was perfectly even with six wins, six loses, and six draws.
 
Alejandro De La Torre was arguably the best player for the Cardinals in his final season wearing the red and black. He played just about every minute in goal for the Cardinals through the regular and post season. Torre accumulated 60 saves five shutouts in through 18 games and was named to the OVC All-Tournament team. Along with Alejandro, Will Ansah, a key senior starter who held the back line was named OVC All-Tournament team.
 
The kickoff of the season was rough as the Cardinals couldn't pick up a win in through their first three games, with their best result being a 1-1 draw with Gardner Webb. UIW quickly got back with results over local opponents. First Sello Diphoko scored two goals to push the Cards over UTRGV, followed up with a dominant 4-0 win over Our Lady of the Lake.
 
UIW's season would take a turn for the worse as the Cardinals fell in their next three games including their first two games of conference play. While things looked down for the Word UIW wouldn't lose another game for the rest of the season.
 
UIW readied for two games against teams up north in Western and Eastern Illinois. In game number one the Cardinals won in last minute fashion once again with a one-goal win over Western Illinois. Once again, the Cardinals repeated the cycle with a dominant four goal game taking down Eastern Illinois.
 
Four straight games of draws left the Cardinals in playoff contention but without a secure spot in the final week of the season. The Cardinals and Western Illinois Leathernecks battled for 80 minutes with no score. In the 81^st minute Cesar Elizalde out UIW ahead. Even with the lead UIW wouldn't take their foot off the gas and just three minutes later Timothy Ospina put Western Illinois away and secured the Cardinals a spot in the OVC playoffs.
 
In the final game of the season UIW and Liberty played an amazing game which not only resulted in a 2-2 draw but also a third matchup against the two teams this time in the playoffs.
 
After falling Liberty 2-0 in the first match, and then finishing the season with a two all draw with the Flames UIW looked to make another deep playoff run. Determined to show their offensive power the Cards got up on Liberty early with a first half goal and finished it off with another in second half earning a 2-0 win heading into the semi-final.
 
This game was a rematch of the 2023 OVC championship game where SIUE took down UIW in their first season in the Ohio Valley Conference. Unfortunately for the Cards the result would be the same and the tightly contested match ended with a 1-0 win for the Cougars, ending the 2024 campaign for UIW men's soccer.
 
FOLLOW ALONG  
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