BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Houston Christian University has been tabbed to finish fifth in the preseason poll released by the Ohio Valley Conference on Thursday morning. HCU garnered 59 total points while receiving two first-place votes in the poll of league coaches and communication directors.
In addition, junior midfielder
D'Alessandro Herrera was selected as one of eight OVC "Players to Watch" for 2024, the second straight season to be selected.
SIU-Edwardsville earned 11 first-place votes and 95 total points to earn the top spot in the preseason poll. The defending regular season and conference tournament champions finished 16 points ahead of second-place Liberty in the ranking, with the Flames picked up the other three first place votes.
Longtime rival UIW came in third with 67 points, one point ahead of Lindenwood in fourth and HCU in fifth. Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois and Southern Indiana rounded out the poll.
Herrera was also named by
Total Football Analysis as one of 11 NCAA Division 1 "Players to Watch". The team was selected using an aggregate of data compiled from the 2023 season and players were identified primarily based on having the highest position-specific metrics.
The Houston native was voted the OVC Midfielder of the Year last season after scoring six goals with a team-best seven assists for 19 total points in the Huskies inaugural campaign in the league. Herrera's seven helpers tied for the 10
th most in a single-season for the Huskies, moving him into a tie for 10
th all-time in assists.
HCU has played one exhibition thus far, a 2-2 draw at preseason No. 10-ranked SMU this past Friday. The Huskies will play one more tune-up match in preparation for the regular season when they face cross-town foe University of St. Thomas at Sorrels Field on Saturday evening at 7 pm.
The 2024 campaign begins in earnest on August 22, as the Huskies begin a three-match homestand when Gardner-Webb comes to Fondren Road. HCU's second go in the OVC begins on September 28 as the Huskies host rival UIW to start a a stretch of three straight conference tilts on the home pitch.
The Huskies lost six seniors but returns 17 players from the 2023 season where they went 4-8-6 overall and 2-4-4 in their first season in the Ohio Valley Conference. Included in the returnees are Herrera as well OVC Freshman of the Year
Ryan Okerayi, each of whom were selected to the All-OVC First team. Those two will also be joined by a 14-player incoming class which includes seven transfers.
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