🆚 University of the Incarnate Word
📆 Saturday, October 26, 2024
⏰ 7 pm
🏟️ Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium – San Antonio, Texas
📈 LIVE STATS
📺 ESPN+
SAN ANTONIO ---- Houston Christian University begins the stretch run of the campaign when it takes on arch-rival University of the Incarnate Word on Saturday night in the Alamo City. Kick-off in the second meeting this season between the two clubs set for 7 pm at Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium, a game that begins a string of three straight matches on the road for the Huskies to close out the regular season.
HCU capped off a successful home portion of the 2024 campaign on Sunday, getting a "Senior Day" victory over defending Ohio Valley Conference champion SIU-Edwardsville.
Ryan Okerayi's goal just over three minutes into the second half provided the game-winner for the Huskies, handing the Cougars their first-ever loss in conference play. The win also catapulted HCU into a tie at the top of the table with SIUE with just three matches to go in the regular season.
Theo Butterworth and
Alex Aitken were both honored by the league after their efforts in the 1-0-1 week for HCU. Butterworth captured Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career, while Aitken was honored with Goalkeeper of the Week for the second time this season and third in his career. The Huskies have now had five different players collect OVC weekly honors on seven different occasions this year. Butterworth joins
Hans Leza, who has been named Defensive twice this season, while
Ethan Giwa-McNeil and
Ricardo Garcia have each been selected Offensive Player on one occasion.
The Huskies head into Saturday night at 7-5-3 overall and 5-1-1 in OVC play. HCU is now 6-1-3 over its last 10 after a tough 1-4 start to the season, with the only blemish in recent form coming in a 1-0 defeat to Liberty. The seven victories overall and five in conference play are the most for HCU since 2019 when the Huskies were a member of the WAC.
Just three goals have been conceded in the last eight outings and there have been four clean sheets in conference play as the Huskies continue their solid defensive work, which has allowed just 15 goals in 15 matches this year. A very opportunistic and balanced offense boasts eleven different players hitting the back of the net this season along with eight players with at least two assists.
Okerayi's goal against SIUE gave him five on the season to tie Giwa-McNeil for the team lead, and they are tied for fourth in the OVC. Okerayi's assist gave him a team-high five, also tied for fourth in the league. One behind him is Giwa-McNeil with four. The pair continue to be at the top of the league in shots and shots per game, with Okerayi ranking tied for first and tied for third and Giwa McNeil third and second respectively.
D'Alessandro Herrera chips in three goals and two assists, and the Huskies have three players,
Sam Zeeman,
Ricardo Garcia and Worsfold-Gregg with two goals apiece.
Freddy Ferguson adds a goal and three assists.
Alex Aitken continues to be solid in the pipes behind a staunch backline presence. He posted his fifth clean sheet of the season in the victory over SIUE, good for second in the league. It was his ninth career shutout which places him third in HCU history and the win gave him 15 for his career, passing Chance Pope for third place on the career leaderboard.
One of just three players with over 200 saves in a career, Aitken now sits at 208 saves after last weekend, just 13 saves shy second place occupied by former keeper and later HCU head coach Benny Agosto.
Aitken ranks third in the OVC in saves, fourth in saves per game and second in save percentage. He is first in the league in goals allowed average at 0.92, one of just two keepers in the league posting a sub-one GAA on the campaign.
This is the second meeting of the season with UIW, as the Huskies took the first match on September 28 in the conference opener. The Cardinals took the lead in the 67th minute on the first career goal by William Fagerberg. HCU retaliated six minutes later by scoring twice in a 2:36 span. A penalty kick by
Ryan Okerayi knotted things at one at the 73:10 mark, and just moments later,
Ethan Giwa-McNeil scored off a nifty touch from
D'Alessandro Herrera at the strike of 75:46 to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead they wouldn't relinquish. The victory pulls the all-time series to 8-10-2 with UIW.
UIW is 4-5-4 overall on the year and comes into the Saturday night tilt at 2-2-3 in conference play. The Cardinals are in fifth place, just two points out of fourth place and Lindenwood. UIW has been solid over its last five, going 2-0-3, including a scoreless draw with SIUE last Thursday before pulling out a 2-2 level with Lindenwood. The Cardinals went down a man16 minutes in and trailed 2-0 after an hour, but got goals in the 62nd and 77th minute to rally for the tie.
The Cardinals have three players, Diego Robles, Peleg Armendariz and Sello Diphoko, with three goals apiece to lead the offense. Robles leads the club with two assists. Alejandro De La Torre has started 13 times and given up 16 goals while making 42 saves with two shutouts.
Following the trip to San Antonio, the Huskies will be away again for the final two fixtures of the season. HCU heads to Liberty University for a Halloween rematch with the Flames before closing the regular season at Western Illinois University on November 3.
#DawgsUp
