NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- With one major goal out of the way, the University of the Incarnate Word women's soccer team enters the last two games of the regular season with a great chance to secure a top spot in the Southland Conference Tournament.

Following a scoreless tie against UTRGV on Sunday, the Cardinals guaranteed themselves a spot in SLC Tournament and still have a shot at earning the No. 1 seed.

UIW, which is 5-2-1 in conference play, is currently tied with Houston Christian (4-0-4) for the No. 2 position with 16 points, three less than leader Lamar (6-1-1).

Northwestern State (15 points) and Southeastern (13) are all also nipping at UIW's heels, while McNeese and Nicholls (12 points each) are also in good shape to land in the postseason.

The Cardinals will conclude their regular season with a potentially massive game at home against Houston Christian on Nov. 5. But before that, they have one more road test against Stephen F. Austin on Sunday.

Stephen F. Austin (5-12, 2-6)

WHEN AND WHERE: Sunday, 1 p.m., Nacogdoches, Texas

ABOUT THE LUMBERJACKS: It's been a tough fall for SFA, which needs to win its last two games and have multiple teams lose multiple times to have any shot at the postseason. Defense has been a struggle for the Lumberjacks, who have allowed 36 goals, the second-most in the SLC. In Southland Conference games, SFA has given up 16 goals, more than any other league team. The offense does have one of the SLC's top scoring options in Alyce Chappelle, who is second in the conference with nine goals.

MATHCUP HISTORY: Stephen F. Austin has dominated the series, going 7-1-2 against the Cardinals since 2013. UIW has never scored more than one goal in any of those 10 games. However, the last trip to Nacogdoches produced the Cardinals' lone win, as Peri Olmo found Sierra Wannamaker for the only goal of a 1-0 Cardinal triumph on Oct. 18, 2024.