SAN ANTONIO – Junior
Allison Abendschein registered her first 3-point match of her career, sophomore
Jennifer Gebhardt scored her first-collegiate goal, and freshman
Sabriah Spencer netted her second game winner of the season as HBU women's soccer defeated Incarnate Word, 3-2, Friday evening from Benson Stadium.
Abendschein, Gebhardt, and Spencer led the way for HBU (3-2-1 overall, 1-0-0 SLC) in the point department. Abendschein and
Ellee Hall each had three shots.
Alanis Guevara earned her first-collegiate win in goal as she made three saves.
Abigail Koenigs and Emani Stewart each scored for UIW (2-7-0, 0-1-0), while Nikki Popa tied for the game high of three shots. Karly Brightwell stopped six shots in goal for the Cardinals.
It took just seven minutes for UIW to draw first blood. Following an HBU foul, the ball from the ensuing free kick got loose inside the box and Koenigs banged it home for an early Cardinal lead.
The Huskies tied the game in the 22nd minute as
Gabby Rodriguez sent in a beautiful cross into the box that Abendschein headed over Brightwell.
The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead five minutes later. After Brightwell made a save, the Cardinals headed on the offensive side. Stewart took a long pass up the field and beat Guevara below the cross bar.
HBU almost tied the game before halftime as
Alessia Dal Monte's header attempt hit the post in the 35th minute, but the teams entered the break with UIW leading, 2-1.
HBU outshot the Cardinals, 9-6, in the half and had all six of the corner kicks.
The Huskies found the keeper's best friend midway through the second half, as
Bailey Clayton's attempt hit the post.
HBU's luck changed in the 79th minute as, following a Cardinal foul, Gebhardt scored off a free kick to knot the match at two-all.
Two minutes later, Spencer gave the Huskies a lead they would not relinquish, following an offensive onslaught. Abendschein's initial shot was blocked. After Brightwell made two saves, Spencer got one past the keeper for a 3-2 Huskies lead.
HBU outshot UIW, 10-4, in the second half for a 19-10 advantage for the match. The Huskies took three of the second half's four corner kicks for a 9-1 advantage.
The Huskies conclude their season-high six-match road trip next weekend at Sam Houston State Sept. 25 at 6:30 pm and Stephen F. Austin Sept. 27 at 1 pm.
