Houston Christian University Head Coach
Ryan Pratt announced two more signings on Friday afternoon, adding transfers Kacy Parish and Jace Starling to the 2025 recruiting class.
KACY PARISH comes to HCU after two seasons at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. The Brentford, England native and Shenfield High School product helped lead the Storm to 20 wins over his two campaigns, including a berth in the 2023 NCAA Division II National Tournament as a rookie. A 5'10 midfielder, he saw action in 31 games, playing over 2700 total minutes with a goal and an assist.
PRATT ON PARISH:
"Kacy couples strong technical ability with a great understanding of the game.
His on-the-ball abilities and his off-the-ball movement will allow him to be a very good, deep-lying midfielder for us.
He has an excellent range of pass allowing him to help progress the ball forward and will be a great fit allowing us to continue our style of play in the build.
We are looking forward to seeing his impact within our team."
JACE STARLING joins the Huskies after spending his first two collegiate years at Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas. A 6'2 forward from Burkburnett, Texas, Starling played in 30 games for the Dragons, scoring twice as a freshman before coming on this past season to the tune of 10 goals and two assists.
PRATT ON STARLING:
"Jace is a very athletic forward who loves to run in behind stretching the opposition's back line.
His off-the-ball movement in the final third coupled with his goal scoring instincts make him an exciting player to watch.
He has a high work rate and his unselfish play will make him a great fit in our program's culture."
The pair join 6'1 forward
Marcos Moore, a transfer from St. Louis University who signed just before Christmas.
HCU ended its second season in the Ohio Valley Conference with an 8-7-5 overall mark and 5-2-3 ledger in league play. Seven players earned postseason honors for the Huskies, including outgoing seniors
Sam Zeeman, who was chosen OVC Defensive Player of the Year and named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region team, and
Ethan Giwa-McNeil.
Ryan Okerayi and
D'Alessandro Herrera were each named to the All-Conference team for the second straight year, while goalkeeper
Alex Aitken earned All-Conference honors for the first time.
The Huskies finished ahead of Liberty, UIW and Western Illinois in their four-team pod and earn a first-round bye in the conference tournament where they handled Lindenwood in the semifinals 2-0 before falling in a heartbreaking 3-2 double-overtime loss to two-time defending champ SIUE in the title match.
The third-place finish in the league overall came one season after not qualifying for the tournament in the OVC's first season. HCU's eight wins overall were the most since 2015 team won nine matches, and also the first winning record in a season since that 2015 club. The five conference victories were the most since going 5-6 in the WAC during the 2019 season.
#DawgsUp
