San Antonio–The University of the Incarnate Word took advantage of a shortage of healthy goalkeepers and defeated St. Mary’s University, 5-1, in Heartland Conference women’s soccer action Friday afternoon at St. Mary’s University Soccer Field.

With their number one and two goalkeepers out with injuries, St. Mary’s was forced to turn to field player Kendall Donegan (So., Colorado Springs, Colo.), who had not started in goal in a collegiate match before. Just 4:17 into the game Cassidy Ballantyne kicked a long, high ball that went off Donegan’s fingertips and into the goal for a 1-0 lead.

However, the Rattlers were able to battle back and tied things at 1-1 in the 19th minute. Rachel Maldonado (Sr., San Antonio) hit a similar ball to Ballantyne’s from about 35 yards out that just got over the outstretched hands of Ashton Caffrey.

But just six minutes later Lianah Flores put in her seventh goal of the season and Mallory Smith added another score with less than five minutes left in the half to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead at the break. They would add two more to wrap up the scoring.

The Cardinals outshot the Rattlers 25-9 in the game and took 10 corner kicks to just two for St. Mary’s. Donegan made three saves in goal, while Sarah Linares (So., San Antonio), who took over in goal for the second half, made two saves.

With the loss the Rattlers fell to 6-6-1 overall and 2-2-1 in Heartland Conference play. Incarnate Word improved to 11-1-1 and 6-0-0. St. Mary’s will return to action on Sunday when they host Texas A&M International University at 2 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Soccer Field.

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