SAN ANTONIO - The University of the Incarnate Word women's soccer team continued a brutal non-conference stretch with a trip across town to face unbeaten UTSA Thursday, as the Roadrunners rode a fast-paced offense to a 3-1 win.
On a night where it raised a banner to commemorate its 2025 American Athletic Conference championship, UTSA had 11 shots in the first 18 minutes before finally getting a goal from Sofia Peters.
UIW keeper
Hannah Alexander, who had seven saves in the first 18 minutes, finished with a season-high 10 stops, but got put in a perilous position in the 41st minute, when she was asked to defend a penalty kick.
Leah Varela took advantage, scoring to push the lead to 2-0. Though that looked like it might an early dagger, the Cardinals were able to return the favor less than three minutes later.
UIW was out-shot 21-4 in first half but got within 2-1 with 1:40 remaining until the break, when after a review showed a Roadrunner foul in the penalty area,
Peri Olmo was granted a penalty kick, which she sent into the top left corner of the net.
It stayed 2-1 until the 80th minute, when a bad bounce all but locked things away for UTSA.
Given a free kick try, Varella sent a clean ball that got to the net. Alexander got both hands on the ball, which bounced through a wave of bodies and wound up at the left foot of Peters, who rolled a shot into the right corner before the Cardinal keeper could get into position.
The loss drops UIW to 3-4-1 on the season as the Cardinals have just one more tune-up before Southland Conference play begins next Thursday.
Incarnate Word will host Abilene Christian at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
