SAN ANTONIO — Kaja Skare recorded a hat trick by scoring the first three goals of the night to lead UTSA to a 4-0 victory against Incarnate Word in an exhibition match on Thursday night at Park West Athletics Complex.
Redshirt freshman Nicole Galan added a late goal for the Roadrunners, who stretched a 1-0 halftime advantage with three winners in the final 45 minutes. Meanwhile, the UTSA defense held Incarnate Word to just five shots. Playing the final 29 minutes, freshman Hannah Weisse led a trio of UTSA goalkeepers with three saves.
Skare and the Roadrunners wasted little time in grabbing the upper hand as the Oslo, Norway, native put the home squad on the board with a goal in the third minute. Olivia Nicholls put a shot on goal that was saved by Cardinals goalie Sydney Huntsinger, but Nicholls collected the rebound and found Skare for the quick strike and a 1-0 lead.
The Roadrunners controlled the tempo and possession for much of the half, but could not extend the margin before intermission. Jordyn Lacy nearly gave UTSA another goal in the first half, but her penalty shot in the 10th minute was stopped by Huntsinger.
After the break, the Roadrunners continued to apply pressure to the Incarnate Word defense and Skare made the score 2-0 with a header in the box in the 57th minute. Freshmen Katieann Lochte and Marianne Hernandez each picked up an assist on the header.
In the 74th minute, Skare took a free kick after being fouled just outside of the penalty box and the junior beat both the Cardinals' wall and Huntsinger for a strike in the upper corner of goal for her third and final winner of the night.
Galan then capped the big night for the offense with a close strike five minutes later that was set up by Megan Wilcox.
The cushion was more than enough for the Roadrunners defense. The best scoring chance for the Cardinals came in the 87th minute, but Weisse was able to jump up and bat away the shot to preserve the clean sheet.
In all, seven players (Hernandez, Lacy, Lochte, Weisse, Wilcox, Sarah Bayhi and Camrynne Hoover) made their UTSA debut in front of the home crowd.
UTSA will open its 11th season of play at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19 at Abilene Christian.
