The Huskies kick off the 2022 campaign by facing Furman on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., following the opening game of the tournament between the UIW Cardinals and the No. 22 Campbell Fighting Camels at 5 p.m. UIW will face Furman at 5 p.m. Sunday afternoon followed by HBU vs Campbell at 7:30 p.m.
The tournament will mark the first time HBU has played Furman and just the second time HBU and Campbell have faced one another. The Huskies and Camels last met in a close 1-0 matchup in Houston with Campbell coming out on top in 2012.
Furman ended the 2021 season with a 7-9-1 overall record. They have played three preseason games ahead of the regular season, playing Mars Hill, Clemson, and North Florida. The Paladins were picked to finish second in the Southern Conference preseason poll and feature two juniors, forward Jake Raine and defender Josh Hosie, who were named preseason all-conference.
Campbell posted a 15-4-2 record last season and won the Big South Conference championship. The Camels fell short vs. Virginia Tech in the NCAA tournament. Campbell aims to repeat as Big South preseason favorites with eight starters returning, including the league's preseason offensive and defensive players of the year.
UIW is coming of a 5-10-2 season. The Cardinals, previously members of the WAC, are playing this season as an independent program. Junior Edu Perez is the team's top returning scorer after netting five goals along with two assists last season.
Following the HBU Invitational, the Huskies will hit the road for four games in a row, first heading to California to take on San Diego (9/2) and Cal Poly (9/5), before traveling to face Oral Roberts (9/9), and Northwestern (9/12). The Huskies' return to Sorrels Field comes on Sept. 17 to face Eastern Illinois (9/17).
