HOUSTON – Houston Christian University dropped its season opener on Thursday night as Gardner-Webb University escaped with a 3-2 decision at Sorrels Field.
The visitors from Boiling Springs, North Carolina jumped out to a quick two-goal lead before 20 minutes were off the clock. Elias Khodri gave the Bulldogs the opening tally in the 15th minute when he directed in a cross from Breno Correia on the right side just past the keeper at the right post.
A second score came just under four minutes later as Leo Andrade knocked in a header off a cross from Khodri at the 18:06 mark.
Four minutes later, Freddy Ferguson would open the 2024 account for the Huskies, as he intercepted a poor clearance by the GW keeper and poked a hard smash into an empty left side to cut the lead to one.
Gardner-Webb would get that goal back however, as Caio Hughes smacked a shot from the left side along the end line to the upper right corner, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs a 3-1 lead with under seven to play before the intermission.
HCU didn't waste any time out of the break drawing closer. A minute and a half into the second session, Kaone Kolagano put another in the ledger when he picked off a loose ball just inside the 18-yard box for a smashing right-footed goal that pulled HCU to within a single goal once again, 3-2.
That would be all for the scoring, as the two teams slugged it out for the remaining 43 minutes with neither team giving an inch defensively as GW held on for a season-opening road victory.
Kolagano and Ferguson picked up the first goals of the season for the Huskies, who got nine shots total and four on goal in the match. Hans Leza and Kevin Yamna joined Kolagano with two shots and one SOG for the evening. Jordan Santa Cruz made two saves in the losing effort in the woodwork.
Gardner-Webb (1-0) got three points from Elias Khodri with his goal and assist. Andrade and Hughes each nabbed goals while Correia and Lucas Gonzalez each also chipped in an assist. Alan Horrocks picked up his first win minding the net, registering a pair of saves.
The Huskies (0-1) continue their three-match stay on Fondren Road to start the season when they host IU-Indianapolis on Sunday evening. The Jaguars will come to Sorrels Field on the heels of a 2-0 win over Incarnate Word in San Antonio Thursday evening in their first outing of the season.
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