HOUSTON – After a weather delay of more than one hour with the score tied 0-0 in the first half, HBU defeated St. Thomas (MN) 1-0 in double overtime Thursday night.
 
A golden goal in the 108^th minute by C.J. Smith, assisted by Abu Kamara, was the difference maker in an otherwise scoreless back and forth game between the Huskies and the Tommie's. The Huskies opened their season with a win for the first time since 2019 and head coach Ryan Pratt hopes his team can build on this momentum.
 
"We have been talking about momentum all preseason," Pratt said. "Tonight was difficult with the long delay, but we were able to grind out a win which will allow us to build on that momentum."
 
The Huskies (1-0-0, 0-0-0 WAC) and Tommie's (0-1-0) went back and forth in the first half battling for possession and shot attempts. Gianluca Natera nearly put the Huskies ahead in the 40^th minute with a blast saved by St. Thomas' goalkeeper Tucker Mann. The Tommies' lone shot on goal came in the 30^th minute when Josh Grzesiak sent one towards goal, but HBU's goalkeeper JP Becerra was there for the save.
 
HBU came out as aggressors in the second half winning both the possession battle and total shot attempts (11-3). Abu Kamara and Dillon Etter both put shots on goal in hopes of swinging the momentum fully in the Huskies' favor.
 
In total the Huskies had 17 shots with four on goal. Midfielder Natera and forward Bryant Farkarlun both attempted five shots. Keeper JP Becerra had one save on the night and kept a clean sheet through both overtimes to help lead the Huskies to victory.
 
St. Thomas had seven shots with one on goal. Forwards Keegan James and Josh Nickowski both attempted two shots and keeper Tucker Mann had three saves on the night.
 
The game ended in the 108^th minute when Kamara set up Smith for a right foot scoring bender from the top of the box.
 
"For most of the game, we were missing that last piece of quality in the final third," Pratt said. "Abu and CJ provided that on the game-winning goal."
 
HBU takes on Florida Atlantic in the final game of the HBU Invitational at Sorrels Field Sunday night at 8 p.m.