Juan DeLeon Creative

MSOC: HCU faces first road tests of the season

8/31/2023 1:55:00 PM

Huskies face off with Belmont and UAB at the Soccer for the Cure Classic in Birmingham, Alabama

HCU (1-1-0) vs Belmont (1-0-1) and UAB (0-1-1)

UAB Soccer for the Cure Classic (Birmingham, Alabama)
Goldfarb Field at Berylson Soccer Park
Friday vs. Belmont - 4:30 pm (LIVE STATS)
Sunday at UAB - 2:00 pm (LIVE STATS)

Houston Christian University hits the road for the first time in 2023, as it travels to Birmingham, Alabama for the Soccer for the Cure Classic hosted by UAB. The Huskies will play twice in a three-day span, facing off with Belmont on Friday and then UAB on Sunday, with both matches being played at Goldfarb Field at Berylson Soccer Park.

The Huskies, under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Ryan Pratt, opened their campaign with two matches at home last week, falling in the season opener 2-0 to St. Bonaventure, but bouncing back for a big Sunday night victory over Omaha, winning 4-1.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Pratt, who will match up against his alma mater for the first time as HCU's Head Coach. Pratt was a four-year letter winner for the Blazers', helping the team to a 54-21-3 mark in his time there, including the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1994 and a Conference USA Regular Season title in 1995.

Friday's matchup with Belmont will also be the 100th game on the HCU sidelines as head coach for Pratt, who has also spent time as the head coach at Montevallo (Ala.) and Jacksonville.

Following the opening of play last week, D'Alessandro Herrera was selected as the first-ever Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week. He accounted for five points on two goals and an assist while taking eight total shots, four on goal, in the two contests.

His header at the 26:34 mark of the first half against Omaha put HCU up for good 2-1, and he later added an 89th minute penalty kick to put the game out of reach.

The Huskies will tangle with Belmont on Friday in the third meeting overall between the two schools. HCU defeated Belmont 4-2 in Houston in 2010, then again 4-0 in Nashville in 2014.

The Bruins are 1-0-1 on the season, having taken a 1-0 win over Georgia State in their opener and then playing to a 1-1 draw with Florida Atlantic. Brock Kiper, a sophomore forward, scored both of BU's goals, and was rewarded with Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors.

On Sunday, the Huskies take on the host Blazers. It will be just the second meeting, as UAB defeated HCU 1-0 at the SMU Tournament in 2009.

UAB is 0-1-1 to start the campaign. The Blazer drew with Northern Kentucky 1-1, then were defeated 5-1 at Georgia State. Freshman forward Isaac Calderon tallied in each contest to lead the way.

Live stats will be available for both contests.

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Huskies face off with Belmont and UAB at the Soccer for the Cure Classic in Birmingham, Alabama

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