SAN ANTONIO -- With its defense dominating for the second-straight game, the University of the Incarnate Word women's soccer team found an equally impressive offensive punch in a 9-0 blowout of visiting Texas A&M San Antonio in the Cardinals' home opener Sunday.
The nine goals are the most a UIW team has scored since the program's transition to the NCAA Division-I level in 2013. The previous high was seven, which the Cardinals reached against Texas Southern
on Sept. 6, 2013, and again against Prairie View A&M
on Aug. 20, 2023.
Sunday saw the most goals scored by any Cardinal team since an 11-0 victory against Texas A&M International on Oct. 3, 2008.
Perhaps the most impressive feat was that the nine goals were scored by eight different players.
Zaiba Ishaque started the scoring in the seventh minute then put UIW ahead 3-0 with another goal in the 13th, both off assists from
Kiana Villa.Â
Villa added a third assist on the game's fourth goal by
Montanna Mathews in the 17th minute.
Other goals came from
Julia Watson in the eighth minute,
Lily Ruff in the 39th,
Atiana Lara in the 42nd,
Morgan Heintz in the 52nd,
Jennovi Diederich in the 72nd and
Veronica Navarrete Cevada in the 84th.
Louise Coates,
Peri Olmo and
Olivia Orellana also had assists for UIW, which finished with 43 shots and 31 shots on goal.
This was countered by a defense which, after allowing just three shots
against Prairie View A&M in the season opener Wednesday, surrendered none to the Jaguars. Through two games, UIW goalies
Hannah Alexander and
Carolina Flores have combined for two shutouts while recording just one save.
With the win, UIW improves to 2-0 for the 13th time in program history, while beginning a season with back-to-back shutouts for the fifth time.Â
The Cardinals will look to make it three straight on Thursday, as they host Texas Southern at 4 p.m.
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