Conway – After getting rained out on Friday night, the Central Arkansas men's soccer team finally got its season kicked off on Sunday, as the Bears played host to the University of the Incarnate Word at Bill Stephens Soccer Complex. The Bears got the season off on the right foot, taking down the Cardinals by a final score of 2-1.

Central Arkansas (1-0) got on the board in the 25^th minute, when keeper Harrison Veith sent a ball deep into the UIW half of the field, where Wes Carson collected it and chipped it over the keeper to put the Bears up 1-0. UIW (0-2) responded in the 36^th minute, as Noah Keats fielded a deflected shot and hammered it into the top right of the net to even the score at 1-1.

That score would hold until the 71^st minute. Manuel Montal lofted a free kick into the box, where Logan Miller and UIW keeper Kieran O'Boyle rose above the gathered crowd of players. Miller out-jumped O'Boyle, flicking a header just over the Cardinal keeper and giving the Bears the 2-1 lead.

The Central Arkansas defense would make the lead hold, consistently winning balls sent toward the Central Arkansas box over the final 20 minutes of play.

The Bears took eight shots on the day, putting five on goal. Carson led the team with three shots, two of which were on frame. Incarnate Word outshot the Bears on the day, taking 10 shots, but putting just three on target. Keats led the way for UIW, placing two of his four shots on target.

Veith picked up the win for Central Arkansas, making two saves and allowing one goal, while O'Boyle made three saves and surrendered two goals to take the loss for UIW.

"We talked to Wes about his opportunities before the game, because we knew that he would get two or three," said Central Arkansas head coach Ross Duncan. "We thought if he could poach one we'd be happy and if he could get two, we'd probably get the win, and he got his goal." Of Miller's game-winner, Duncan said, "That was actually almost a broken play, the ball wasn't supposed to go there. But that's an example of a captain showing belief in himself and the cause and just going for it. It's not easy to go up there because the keeper has got a bigger wingspan, he's got hands he can use, and obviously the forward doesn't, but Logan just out-jumped him."

Central Arkansas returns to the field on Friday evening, welcoming Eastern Illinois to the Stephens. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM.