This is the seventh of a 16-part series, analyzing the fall sports of each school in the Lone Star Conference. Today will feature Incarnate Word, the newest member of the LSC.
Football
It’s not common that a 42-point home loss can provide a momentum boost for a football team. Remarkably, UIW head coach Mike Santiago said he believes that was the case as the Cardinals kick started the program in 2009.
A 49-7 loss to eventual-LSC co-champion Midwestern State changed the landscape in San Antonio.
“For a while in that first half, we were right there,” Santiago said. “We were fighting. We battled. We gave everything we have. Our kids looked around and realized that we were competing at a very high level. Now at the end of the game, our kids were spent. They couldn’t sustain it. But after that game, regardless of the (final score), our kids realized that if we take care of the ball and execute, we can be competitive and win some games.”
And that’s what the Cardinals did, winning four of the next seven games, with the three losses resulting in a combined margin of 10 points.
The best part for Santiago is the Cardinals return 52 lettermen from last season, including 35 sophomores.
The quarterback position is rather open with Eric Massoni and Thomas Specia both battling for the job.
Sophomore tailback Trent Rios rushed for 357 yards and two touchdowns last year, while Dominic Hamilton led the team with 29 catches for 464 yards and six touchdowns.
Santiago said the offensive line was just too young to compete in certain games last year, but is confident that a year under its belt should help, as will a pair of transfers – Manny Tijerina and Jason Hind. The Cardinals are counting on progress from last year’s linemen – Charles Segura, Jayson Hierholzer, Michael Palacios and Patrick Martinez.
Defensively, the Cardinals were impressive as a first-year bunch; ranking 20th in the nation in tackles for losses, averaging 8.33 per game. Lineman Diego McClain led the charge up front, and got help from safety Chaz Pavliska, a first-team All-Independent pick last year. Linebackers Dakota Mawyer and Zach Zellars will be tough to block, as will Alan Ford, who led the team with 6 ½ sacks last year.
“I think we grew up together last year,” Santiago said. “Are we there yet? Probably not. We’ve got a long ways to go still. But we’re young and getting better and we’ll fight you to the end. That’s what I like about this team and that’s why I have confidence in every game we play, that we’re going to compete. Right now, that’s all I can ask for.”
Volleyball
The Cardinals enter their first season in the LSC with some momentum from last year’s 24-9 team that qualified for the Heartland Conference post-season tournament.
Eighth-year head coach Jennifer Montoya (117-118 overall) has nine letterwinners returning, including three starters.
Senior setter Sarah Nordman was an all-conference performer last season, ranking 45th in the nation in assists, averaging 10.15 per game.
Senior libero Spencer Ladd had 22 aces last year averaged five digs per game. Junior outside hitter Chelsea Grayson had 245 kills last year with 38 solo blocks.
Other players expected to contribute include juniors Chera Smith, Anna Herr, Bailey Hanaway and senior Marisol Lopez.
Incoming freshmen Elizabeth Soukup, Vanecia Spencer and Sarah Cardenas should make an impact right away.
Despite playing its first season in the LSC, Incarnate Word was picked to finish seventh out of 15 teams in the league’s preseason polls.
Men’s Soccer
Head coach John Smith enters his fifth season at Incarnate Word and first in LSC play. However, the Cardinals are no strangers to facing some of their new league members, including Midwestern State, who edged them out of the South Central Regional playoffs last season.
Smith will have a handful of returning starters, including four juniors. Midfielders Max Gunderson, Jesus Cortez and Callum Riley and forward Carlos Gonzalez headline the squad, along with senior midfielder Justin Odette.
Cortez tied for second on the squad last year with 38 points (3 goals, 8 assists) and Riley was tied for the club-high in assists with three.
Seniors Dustin Lemley and Craig Bartlett should have some experience, along with junior Michale Langford and junior Christian Montoya.
Women’s Soccer
The Cardinals begin LSC play as one of the most successful programs in Division II and will hope to continue that success in the new league.
Head coach Tina Patterson enters her 18th season at UIW, coming off an impressive 15-3-3 record, including a 10-1-1 campaign in the final year of the Heartland Conference.
To improve on last year’s first-round loss in the NCAA South Central regional, the Cardinals will again count on senior forward Sarah Hernandez, who led the team in both goals (14) and assists (8) last season. Hernandez had eight game-winning goals, and also led the squad with 89 shots on goal.
Emily Hernandez ranked second on the squad with 10 goals, while Cassidy Ballantyne ranked second on the team with three assists.
Goalkeeper Tori Puentes was 13-3-1 in the net and had 68 saves with eight shutouts.
Senior defenders Keri Dawson, Maggie Schrader and Brittany Schrader and senior midfielder Lauren Evans will provide some experience and leadership.
Men’s Cross Country
Head coach Derek Riedel enters his sixth season with the Cardinals and has apparently done enough to gain some respect of the LSC coaches, who picked UIW to finish fifth in the preseason LSC standings.
The Cardinals return some talented runners, including sophomore Howard Gill, who finished third in the Heartland Conference final meet and 53rd overall in the South Central regional. Senior Adrian Carrillo was sixth in the conference and 64th in the region, and sophomore Solomon Rotich was seventh in the Heartland and 77th at the regional meet.
Junior Sebastien Jaraba-Heffner and sophomore Richard Borchardt, a TCU transfer, could provide some depth to the squad.
Women’s Cross Country
Sophomore runner Marie Troufflard had a stellar freshman campaign and should be one of the leaders for Derek Riedel’s inaugural LSC squad.
Troufflard fared rather well against many LSC runners last year in the South Central regional meet, where she finished 13th. That followed up an impressive sixth-place finish at the Heartland meet.
Senior runner Alma Santos, the lone senior on the roster, placed 15th at the conference finals last year. Junior Alma Salinas and sophomores Stephanie Glatt, Alyson Gonzales, Meagan Hoff and Bailey Loyd will contribute as well.