MACOMB, Ill. – Houston Christian University secured the second seed and a first-round bye in next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The Huskies dropped their regular season finale to Western Illinois 1-0 on Sunday at John MacKenzie Alumni Field but still finished atop their pod to earn a spot in the tournament semi-finals.
The Leathernecks got on the board just after the intermission, as Xavier Gagnon got his fifth goal on the season off an assist by Gabe Chapa. The hosts would outshoot the Huskies 11-9 on the afternoon, including 5-3 on goal.
The goal snapped a three-match streak of clean sheets for
Alex Aitken, and was just the fourth scored against the Huskies in conference play. He had four saves on the afternoon, pushing him to within seven of former keeper and later HCU head coach Benny Agosto for second all-time.
HCU had six clean sheets in the regular season, finishing 5-2-3 in OVC play overall to finish above Liberty, Incarnate Word and WIU in the four-team pod. Houston Christian University ends the regular season at 7-6-5. The loss to WIU also snapped a six-match unbeaten form.
The Huskies, one year after not qualifying for the inaugural OVC tournament, will now get a bye to the semifinals after spending much of the regular season in second place, including a brief tie with SIUE at the top of the table. HCU was actually ensured the seeding before even hitting the pitch on Sunday, as Liberty and UIW fought to a 2-2 draw in the first game of the day, keeping HCU ahead regardless the outcome of Sunday's action with WIU.
HCU will play at 3 pm on Wednesday, November 13 against the winner of the Lindenwood and Western Illinois match.
SIUE captured both the regular-season title and a first-round bye when it rallied for two second-half scores and defeated upset-minded Southern Indiana 2-1 in Evansville on Thursday night. The Cougars will play the evening semifinal next Wednesday against the winner between UIW and Liberty.
The OVC Tournament begins next Sunday with the two quarterfinal games at 1 pm and 4 pm. SIUE will host the entire tournament at Ralph Korte Stadium in Edwardsville for the second straight season.
OVC MEN'S SOCCER / TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
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