Beletic’s Brace Powers No. 3 UIW to 4-0 Victory over No. 6 HBU
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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Playing in her hometown of Corpus Christi, UIW midfielder Isabella Beletic’s brace lifted No. 3 UIW to a 4-0 win over No. 6 HBU on Wednesday afternoon at the Dr. Jack Dugan Family Soccer Stadium. It marked the first Southland Conference Tournament win for the Cardinals in program history.
UIW dominated possession in the opening third of the match, leading up to Beletic’s 23
rd-minute goal. Lauren Miller’s centering pass found an open Beletic, who chipped the ball in for her fourth goal of the year.
Beletic found the back of the net again just before halftime, heading in a ball from Ellie Mai Sanford to double the Cardinal advantage.
Just 94 seconds into the second half, UIW struck again with Sierra Wannamaker finishing off a cross from Andrea Reyes. It marked Wannamaker’s second goal against the Huskies this season.
Reyes picked up a second assist in the 81
st minute, delivering a free kick to the backside of the box for Eve Clarkson, who headed it in to tack on a fourth goal for the Cardinals.
The Cardinal defense limited the Huskies to just three shots on goal out of 12 total attempts and routinely won 50-50 balls, cut off passes and poked balls away.
The Cardinals will take on No. 2 seed McNeese in the semifinals at 4 p.m. CT Friday.