Photo GalleryHOUSTON – Visiting Incarnate Word scored a goal in each half as the Cardinals defeated HBU, 2-0, in a WAC contest Saturday night before a near-sellout at Sorrels Field.
Gustavo Alvarado,
Tobenna Uzo, and
George Kelley each had a team-best four shots, as Alvarado and Uzo had one shot on goal for HBU (1-5-2 overall, 0-2-0 WAC).
Kevin Suarez made six saves in the loss.
Alex De La Garza scored both goals for UIW (3-6-0 overall, 2-0-0 WAC), while Noah Keats earned an assist. The duo each took four shots, while De La Garza had a match-high three shots on goal. Kieran O'Boyle made two saves for the shutout win.
UIW drew first blood as De La Garza scored on an individual effort in the 15
th minute. Taking the ball to the middle of the box, he fired a shot past Suarez for a 1-0 Cardinals lead.
HBU doubled up the Cardinals in first-half shots, 8-4, while UIW took two of the three corner kicks.
Early in the second half, Kelley came in as a substitution and nearly tied the match twice in a span of mere seconds. In his first attempt, his shot went just over the cross bar, while in his second attempt, he almost hit the equalizer on a header, but it sailed just high.
The Cardinals scored an insurance goal in the 83
rd minute, as De La Garza struck again, assisted by the team's leading scorer, Keats. Dribbling up the middle of the field, Keats sent a pass up the left side to De La Garza, who shot and scored far side.
HBU outshot the Cardinals in the match, 17-16, while UIW doubled up the Huskies in corner kicks, 4-2.
HBU heads to California for a pair of matches next weekend. The Huskies play at San José State Friday, Oct. 17 at 9 pm central, followed by a 3 pm central kick-off against Bakersfield on Oct. 19.
