HOUSTON – Houston Christian University outlasted Western Illinois University for a 1-0 victory in a Sunday matinee at Sorrels Field. The win was the third in a row for the Huskies, vaulting them into a three-way tie for first place midway through the conference slate.
 
Xavier Gagnon put one on Alex Aitken just short of a half hour for the visitor's best look of the first half, while HCU wouldn't find the pipes at all in the first half, as both teams settled into a tight defensive struggle.
 
The second half began like the first, as both teams tried to control tempo and find that one opening. In the 58th minute, Ricardo Garcia took a shot from outside the box that was deflected to D'Alessandro Herrera near the back post. His initial shot was saved by WIU goalkeeper Micah Ramirez, but the rebound came right back to Herrera for the quick stickback and a 1-0 lead.
 
That lead would hold as the Huskies defense stiffened down the stretch. The Leathernecks would get just one shot on the pipes in the second frame, a shot by Jack Schwering in the 61st minute that was handled by Aitken and a strong bench contingent buoyed a smothering final third in the last 19 minutes to see out the result.
 
Herrera led the Huskies with his third goal of the campaign on three total shots. Ricardo Garcia had four shots with two on target.
 
Alex Aitken earned his seventh shutout of the season. It was the 19th clean sheet for the senior, pushing him past former keeper and former Head Coach Benny Agosto for the top spot in program history.
 
Both teams attempted 12 shots total, six in each half in the physical contest. Only four were on target for the Huskies to just a pair for the Leathernecks.
 
Gagnon and Schwering had the looks on goal for Western Illinois, while Ramirez was solid in the pipes to the tune of just the one goal allowed and three saves for the Leathernecks, now 3-9-2 overall and 1-2-2 in the OVC.
 
HCU hits the midway point of the conference slate on the heels of its third straight win. The Huskies, 8-3-1 overall, now sit in a three-way tie for first place at 3-1-1 in league play with Liberty and Lindenwood by virtue of the Flames handing Lindenwood its' first loss of the season on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Huskies now embark on the final road trip of the regular season. HCU will take on two-time defending champion SIUE on Thursday evening in Edwardsville, Illinois, a rematch of last year's thrilling double-overtime OVC Championship. The Huskies will then head to St. Charles, Missouri for a Sunday matinee at Lindenwood in St. Charles, Missouri.

The Huskies will play the final three conference games at Sorrels Field beginning with a rematch against arch-rival University of the Incarnate Word on Friday, October 24.
 
 
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