Box Score

HOUSTON – The HBU men's soccer team lost their opening Western Athletic Conference match to Incarnate Word Saturday night at Sorrels Field.
 
HBU (2-6-0, 0-1-0) came out aggressive early in the contest, taking five shots in the first 30 minutes to UIW's two. The Huskies were able to get three corner kick opportunities in the first 16 minutes but were unable to get any shots on target.
 
The Huskies almost took an early lead in the 5^th minute when Luis Poblacion sent a ball into the box from midfield. Husky forward CJ Smith was able to put a shot past the scrambling Cardinal goalkeeper, but Cardinal defender David Schwartzman was able to make a miraculous sliding save to keep the Huskies off the board.
 
The Huskies had another great opportunity to take the lead in the 29^th minute when Abu Kamara stole the ball in the Huskies defensive third which led to a two-on-two fast break with Nathan Karmbor. After a few give and goes, Kamara set Karmbor up for an opportunity near goal, but his sliding attempt missed right and off the post.
 
UIW (2-4-1, 1-0-0) seemed to feel out the HBU attacking strategy before formulating one for themselves. Momentum shifted in the Cardinals favor in the 34^th minute when Alec Rodriguez subbed into the game for Bernabe Lopez. It only took Rodriguez a few minutes to make things happen. Off of a Cardinal's 39^th minute corner kick, Best Emena sent a missile off the cross bar and Rodriguez was there for the rebound to give UIW a 1-0 advantage.
 
Two minutes later off of a Husky turnover near midfield, UIW's Victor Velasco took the ball down the sideline and sent a high cross over the goal to the feet of Rodriguez on the far side of the box who played it back into the center of the box to Eduardo Perez who sent it into the back of the net to extend the Cardinal's lead, 2-0.
 
The Huskies had a few opportunities in the second half to narrow the gap. In the 68^th minute Bryant Farkarlun beat several Cardinal defenders, got to the top of the box and sent a screamer towards goal that Cardinal keeper Nils Roth was able to save. Off of a free kick in the 84^th minute Luis Poblacion sent a shot under the Cardinal wall and on goal which was saved by Roth. The Huskies had several more strong attacks to close out the game but were unable to put any more shots on target.
 
For the game, HBU held the advantage in total shots 13-8 and corner kicks 5-4. Both teams had three shots on target.
 
The Huskies return to action next weekend at Sorrels Field when they host reigning WAC champion Grand Canyon (10/1) and Air Force (10/3) at 7 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. respectively.