🆚 University of the Incarnate Word
📆 Friday, October 24, 2025
⏰ 7 pm CT
🏟️ Sorrels Field – Houston, Texas
📈 LIVE STATS
📺 ESPN+
🗒️ GAME PROGRAM
Houston Christian University returns home to begin a regular-season ending three-match homestand when it hosts rival University of the Incarnate Word on Friday night. Kickoff is slated for 7 pm at Sorrels Field as the two teams face off for the second time this season.
The Huskies are coming off a tough final road swing of the season in which they suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season. HCU was undone in the 84th minute for a 1-0 defeat to SIUE last Thursday in a rematch of last year's OVC Championship match. Then on Sunday, an 80th minute score broke a one-all deadlock to give league-leading Lindenwood a hard-fought 2-1 decision over the Huskies.
HCU is now 8-5-1 overall and 3-3-1 in Head Coach
Ryan Pratt's ninth season at the helm and 12th season overall with the program. The Huskies sit in fourth place overall in the league standings and second in their pod, two-points behind Liberty. Lindenwood continues to sit atop the OVC, having lost just once this season, while SIUE climbed into third place overall and is now second in the pod with the Lions. The winners of each pod earn first-round byes in the six-team conference tournament field.
Ryan Okerayi leads the club with 15 points and seven goals having put 21 of his 36 shots on goal thus far for a .583 SOG%. He now sits in seventh place all-time with 19 goals, and is second in the league in goals and fourth in points.
The Huskies have had eight players hit the back of the net this season and have a .440 SOG% as a team.
Joby Reid is second on the squad in points with 11 and paces the Huskies with five assists, tied for fourth in the OVC. He has three goals on the season, third on the club as D'Alessandro's goal against Lindenwood gave him four to move into second on the squad.
Herrera's two-assist game against Eastern Illiniois was the third in his career, giving him 18 for his career and moving him into fifth place on the all-time charts, where he needs just two more to move into second place.
Ben Thirkill has three assists for the Huskies, while Herrera,
Ron Pressler and
Nico Kross each have a pair. HCU has registered 19 assists on 19 goals thus far on the campaign.
Aitken leads the league with his seven clean sheets, a 0.86 GAA and a .829% save percentage, while ranking fourth in total saves with 58. The senior from Great Barford, England now has 24 victories for his career, ranking as the all-time leader since the program was restarted in 2006. Already the all-time leader in saves, Aitken also now sits atop the leaderboard in shutouts with 19 for his career, passing former keeper and former Head Coach Benny Agosto.
HCU closes the regular season slate with three straight on Fondren Road, beginning with Friday's match against arch-rival University of the Incarnate Word.
The Huskies and Cardinals have now met 22 times dating back to 1986, the second most-played series in program history, with UIW holding a 10-8-4 lead. The two schools spent nine seasons together as members of the WAC before both joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 2023.
Friday is a rematch of the conference opener, a 1-1 stalemate in San Antonio on September 26 at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. The Huskies trailed 1-0 after a Diego Robles goal in the 32nd minute, but Herrera got the equalizer on a nice assist from
Ron Pressler in the 58
th, marking the fourth straight game played between the two in the Alamo City to end in a draw.
UIW is led by Kiki Lara, who is now in his sixth season at the helm of his alma mater. The Cardinals are currently 4-6-5 on the campaign, but are still searching for their first win in conference, registering a 0-4-3 mark. Friday is the final road match of the regular season for UIW.
The Cardinals are paced by Diego Robles and Noe Robles with four and three goals respectively while Giovanni Padilla has four assists to pace the offensive attack. The pipes are manned by grad Alejandro De La Torre, who has been solid all season, ranking second in the OVC with 70 saves and five shutouts.
Friday is the lone game for both clubs on the weekend, as well as all league members, as all eight schools will close the regular season slate with a pair of games next week. HCU will host Liberty on Thursday night, October 30 before a "Senior Day" matinee on Sunday, November 2 against Southern Indiana.
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