SAN ANTONIO - In desperate need of a kick-start, the University of the Incarnate Word got the breakthrough it was searching for and opened Southland Conference women's soccer play with a thrilling 2-1, come-from-behind win over East Texas A&M Thursday night.
Down 1-0 24 minutes into the second half, a Cardinal offense that had scored just three times during a six-game winless streak got an jolt from freshman
Louise Coates, who scored her first collegiate goal in electrifying fashion.
From about 30 yards out, Coates fired a rocket all the way into the outside corner of the net, with snuck in past lunging Lion goalie Emmy Finlinson.
Just over 14 minutes later, in the 81st minute, UIW scored again. As
Grasyn Unruh sent in a pass, two East Texas A&M defenders collided, creaking an opening for
Tyler Coker, who got just enough push to get the ball over Finlinson into the upper corner of the net.
The second half was a major offensive turnaround for the Cardinals, who outshot the Lions 8-3 after being outshot 9-3 in the opening 45 minutes.
The win moves Incarnate Word back to .500 at 4-4-2 on the year. The Cardinals also won their SLC opener for the second year in a row, f
ollowing a 2-0 win over Nicholls last season.
Another matchup with Nicholls is next on the schedule, as the Cardinals travel to Thibodaux, La. for the conference matchup at 7 p.m. next Thursday.Â
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