Conway, Ark. –
The Central Arkansas Men's Soccer Team played their second overtime game of the season on Monday, but this time they were unable to come out with the victory. The Bears battled and hour long lightning delay and rain in the second half before falling to Incarnate Word 4-3 in overtime.
The Bears (1-1-0) and the Cardinals (1-1-0) traded goals throughout the match, beginning when UIW's Victor Pinal put a shot in from seven yards out to give UIW a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. Jaden Hoth got an equalizer for the Bears in the 17th minute, putting away a deflection to tie the game at 1-1 before a lightning delay halted the game in the 32nd minute.
Vincent Bailey put the Cardinals back ahead in the 49th minute, but Logan Miller found another equalizer for the Bears, slamming home a free kick from 18 yards out to knot the score at 2-2 in the 65th minute. Alex de la Garza gave UIW another lead in the 74th minute, but Central Arkansas responded almost immediately as Miller flicked a header into the box and Wes Carson volleyed it home to again tie the game, this time at 3-3, in the 76th minute. Neither team was able to find a game-winner in regulation, sending the game to overtime, where Pinal netted his second goal of the day to give UIW the victory.
Carson led the way for the Bears, placing three of his five shots on frame and scoring once. Miller and Hoth had the Bears only other shots on goal. De la Garza lead the Cardinals with four shots, scoring once and picking up two assists, while Pinal took three shots, placing two on frame.
Patxi Shortsleeve played the entire game in goal for Central Arkansas, making four save and allowing four goals; and Jarred Kahan played all 96 minutes in net for UIW, making two saves and allowing three goals.
Head Coach Ross Duncan said after the game, "We started off a little slow, but we really started to click and control the game up until the weather delay. Both teams had to deal with it, but we came out of [the delay] and didn't handle it as well as they did."
The Bears return to action on Friday, facing off against Oral Roberts in the second game of a double-header at the Stephens. The Central Arkansas Women's Team battles Missouri State at 5:00, and the men will kick off at 7:30. "We've got a big game Friday night," said Duncan, "We should have our biggest crowd of the season. We don't have to wait too long to fix our problems, which is nice, and we expect a much better performance on Friday."
