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HOUSTON – Incarnate Word scored a pair of goals in the first 20 minutes to take a 2-0 lead and a Gianluca Natera goal in the 71^st minute pulled HBU within one but the Huskies couldn't get things even, falling to Incarnate Word in Western Athletic Conference play on Sunday evening at Sorrels Field.
 
HBU (5-10-0, 2-8-0 WAC) goalkeeper Chance Pope made a pair of saves in the first 10 minutes but Incarnate Word (5-10-1, 3-6-0 WAC) found the net in the 13^th minute. A free kick into the box wasn't cleared out, bouncing around in front of the net where William Redmann connected for his first goal of the season and put UIW ahead 1-0. It took less than five minute later, at the 17:02 mark, for a corner kick from Ryan Osborne to find the head of Roberto Diaz and get redirected past Pope to bring the score to 2-0. Tim Watson put the Huskies' first shot on goal in the 30^th minute but the game went into the half at 2-0.
 
Jorge Cabrera came on to play the second half in goal for the Huskies, getting put to work quickly and making his first save less than two minutes into the half. In the 71^st minute, Natera stole a pass in the UIW defensive end, quickly slipping behind the defense for a one-on-one situation and beating UIW keeper Brendan Brown to his right, placing his goal just inside the left post. Watson put the only other shot on goal in the half for HBU, sending a rocket at Brown from just outside the 18-yard box, but the Cardinal keeper made the stop. The Huskies final look came when a Natera shot sailed just high with one second remaining on the clock.
 
Natera's goal was his second of the season as the freshman led HBU with five shots. Watson had the other two shots on goal for the Huskies. Pope suffered the loss in goal for the Huskies, allowing a pair of goals and making three saves while Cabrera also recorded three saves in a scoreless second half.
 
Incarnate Word held a 19-12 advantage in shots with a 7-5 differential in corner kicks. The Cardinals totaled eight shots on goal in earning the win.
 
"I was disappointed with the ability to defend crosses and clear balls out of the box and how we responded to giving up a goal, allowing another one so close within a five minute stretch," said head coach Ryan Pratt. "Defending balls in the box, being tougher to go win challenges and have the desire to go clear balls out of the box is something we have to get better at. I'd like to also thank the three seniors that played tonight. They mean a lot to me individually, personally, and as players as well. I know they're all going to be successful in whatever endeavors they choose to pursue and wish them all the best."
 
Sunday evening's game marked the end of the HBU men's soccer season.