The No. 11-ranked Incarnate Word men’s soccer team got a bit of a scare Friday night at Benson Stadium, falling behind 1-0 in the first half to Northeastern State University. But an onslaught of shots (28-to-9) helped UIW turn the tide in the second half and then the team’s leading scorers put the finishing touches on a 2-1 overtime victory.
Cardinal forward Callum Riley and his team responded with a 12-to-6 shot differential in the first half, but couldn’t find the back of the net until the second half when Riley positioned himself in front of the NSU defender, took a pass from Max Gunderson and made a quick juke to get some separation and then score in the 73rd minute.
Incarnate Word kept the pressure on and outshot NSU, again, 14-3 in the second half, but couldn’t find a way to get the lead by the time the horn sounded for regulation.
In overtime, however, Riley and Troy Thompson took advantage of a quick ball sent deep and down the middle of the field for a counter-attack, and found themselves with a 2-on-1 with a Riverhawk defender caught between the two of them. Riley passed the ball left to Thompson who drew the defender to him and then sent the ball back to Riley – but just a bit too far out in front. The ball was headed out of bounds, but Riley ran it down, cut back and curved the pass back to a waiting Thompson who buried the ball past the goalie for the 2-1 victory.
The goal was the 9th of the season for Riley, who leads the team in goals and points. The assist was Riley’s third of the year. Thompson’s game-winning goal was his sixth on the year and his first game-winner.
The Cardinals will play host to Newman University at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Benson Stadium.