BOX SCORE PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Breanna Powell scored the match-winning goal and assisted on another goal to lead the Prairie View A&M women's soccer team to their first victory of the season Tuesday, a 2-1 win over the Incarnate Word Cardinals.
 
The Lady Panthers scored a mere four minutes apart late in the first half to give themselves a two-goal lead that proved to be too much for their visitors overcome. PVAMU (1-5) also won its first match in four tries against a school from the Southland Conference.
 
The loss dropped Incarnate Word to 0-6 for the season. Prairie View A&M's win also avenged last season's 3-1 loss to the Cardinals to open the 2013 season.
 
Though the Lady Panthers gave one of their strongest performances of the season right from the opening whistle, the Cardinals were not without their chances as their counterattack gave them good looks at the goal. PVAMU senior goalkeeper Bianca Garza was up to the task, however, as she made 10 saves and kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard for 81 minutes en route to her first victory of the season.
 
After several near-misses, the Lady Panthers finally broke through in the 32nd minute, when Powell found Alicia Cooper inside the penalty area for a 10-yard strike that beat UIW goalkeeper Karly Brightwell. For Cooper, a transfer from Tyler Junior College, it was her first goal in a Prairie View A&M uniform.
 
Four minutes later, the Lady Panthers found the back of the net again, this time with Powell taking a feed from Dominique Paige before striking from 12 yards out.
 
After being denied by Garza several times throughout the game, UIW's Sarah Johnson cut the PVAMU lead in half in the 81st minute. However, the Cardinals were unable to find an equalizer in the last nine minutes and PVAMU celebrated the victory.
 
The Lady Panthers close out non-conference play Friday when they travel to San Marcos to face the Texas State Bobcats. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. They open Southwestern Athletic Conference play at home Friday, Sept. 26 when they host Alabama State.