San Antonio, Texas – The Central Arkansas women's soccer team closed out a two-match road trip in San Antonio, Texas on Sunday, squaring off with the Incarnate Word Cardinals at UIW's Benson Stadium. In a match that proved to be a defensive standoff, the Bears emerged victorious, thanks to a golden goal from Autum Schwartz in the first overtime period.

Central Arkansas (7-6-0, 4-1-0 SLC), who outshot Incarnate Word (2-8-0, 1-4-0 SLC) 13-7 on the day, was in control from the first whistle, getting a pair of shots from Schwartz and one from Camille Bassett in the first 11 minutes of the match, but it would be the Cardinals who would get the first shot on goal of the game, as Taylor Husfeld put a shot on target in the 13^th minute that UCA keeper Lauren Mercuri was able to corral. Central Arkansas would get the half's best look in the 42^nd minute, when Hadley Dickinson was able to create some space and beat UIW keeper Sydney Huntsinger, but a Cardinal defender stepped in and knocked the ball away, keeping the match scoreless with the team save. Emani Stewart would get a solid look on the counter-attack, but Mercuri would again make the save, sending the match into the halftime break with no score.

Incarnate Word got a pair of shots early in the second half, with Mercuri again being called on to make the save on one of them, before Ashley Smith gave the Bears their first look of the half, firing off a header that UIW keeper Katrina Buck was able to make the save on. It would take 20 minutes for the Bears to get another shot off, but a flurry of activity at the 75-minute mark saw Basset have a shot blocked, gather the rebound, and fire off another attempt that Buck pushed wide for a corner kick for Haylee Hulse. The set piece would fall to Dickinson, who got a solid look, but Buck was again able to make the save. Central Arkansas would get shots from Kristen Ricks and Alex Wetteland as time wound down, but both attempts went wide.

UIW would again control the pace early overtime, as Mercuri was called on to make saves on shots from Husfeld and Brooke Hanson in the first three minutes. The Bears would regain control though, as Jordan Slim played a ball to Schwartz, who launched a shot from the edge of the box to beat Buck and give the Bears the 1-0 victory.

On the day, Dickinson put both of her shots on goal, while Bassett, Schwartz, and Smith each added on shot on frame. In goal, Mercuri earned her first individual shutout of the season, making five saves to improve to 7-3-0 on the year.

"This was a very difficult road trip," said UCA head coach Jeremy Bishop of the Bears' weekend, which included a match at Abilene Christian on Friday in addition to today's match. "To be able to come home with two wins is huge for our team. Today we played pretty well, but couldn't create that many great scoring chances, despite controlling most of the play. Autum's finish in overtime was a great display of poise and execution."

Central Arkansas returns home to open a three-match homestand that will close out its home schedule for the 2017 season. The Bears will host the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks at 7:00 PM Friday night, before taking on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 7:00 PM on Friday, October 13^th, and Houston Baptist at 1:00 PM on Sunday, August 15^th.