SAN ANTONIO -- Fresh off recording its highest-scoring performance as a Division-I program, the University of the Incarnate Word women's soccer team returns to action with a pair of games this week.

The Cardinals will look to start 3-0 or better for the seventh time in program history when they host Texas Southern at 4 p.m. Thursday. They'll then get their first power conference test of the season on Sunday, traveling to Dallas for a 7 p.m. tilt against SMU out of the ACC.

UIW has out-shot its first two opponents 62-3 while outscoring them 10-0. Nine of those goals came from eight different players in a rout of Texas A&M San Antonio on Sunday. 

That was the most goals in a game for the program since jumping to the D-I ranks in 2013 and the most period since an 11-0 victory over Texas A&M International on Oct. 3, 2008.

Here's a look ahead at the Cardinals' schedule this week.
 

Texas Southern

WHEN AND WHERE: Thursday, 4 p.m., Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.

ABOUT THE TIGERS: Picked to finish fifth in the SWAC preseason poll, Texas Southern will face a Southland Conference team for the third time in a row to open the year, following a 2-0 win over UTRGV on Aug. 13 and a 1-0 loss to Houston Christian on Sunday. Ilena Guzman assisted on goals by Alana Aiken and Jiselle Caffey in the win over UTRGV while keeper Alessandra Bastidas recorded a four-save shutout.

MATHCUP HISTORY: UIW is 2-1-1 all-time against Texas Southern, its wins coming in 2013 (7-1) and 2022 (4-1). The Cardinals held a 44-7 shot advantage when the teams played in Houston last season, but weren't able to get anything past Bastidas, who had 11 saves in a scoreless draw.

SMU

WHEN AND WHERE: Sunday, 7 p.m., Washburn Scoccer and Track Stadium (Dallas)

ABOUT THE MUSTANGS: After being picked to finish 10th in the ACC preseason poll, SMU went wire-to-wire with No. 5 Vanderbilt in its season opener, but ultimately fell 4-3 after the Commodores scored the game-winner with 1:07 to play. The Mustangs rebounded with a 2-0 win over North Texas on Sunday. Five players have accounted for the team's five goals while the defense allowed just one shot on goal against UNT. SMU will host Boise State on Thursday prior to playing the Cardinals.

MATHCUP HISTORY: Sunday marks the first ever meeting between the two programs. Having never previously played anyone out of the ACC, the Cardinals will face the conference in back-to-back games, as they also travel to face Miami on Aug. 27.
 

FOLLOW ALONG   

For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on X @UIWAthletics. 

Follow the team on X @UIWWomensSoccer and on Instagram @uiwwsoccer.