HOUSTON – Houston Christian University returned to Sorrels Field for the first time in a month on Thursday evening and claimed a decisive 3-0 victory over visiting Eastern Illinois University.
HCU got two solid looks early in the game, one each by
D'Alessandro Herrera and
Ryan Okerayi. A shot by Casey Welage was stabbed by
Alex Aitken in the 16th minute, as the two teams continued to try and establish tempo.
Four minutes later, the Huskies would break the ice. A solid build up down the right side culminated with
D'Alessandro Herrera finding
Joby Reid for a quick flick to
Ryan Okerayi. The junior took one touch before firing a left-footed missile from outside the area to the top left shelf, handing the hosts a one-nil lead halfway into the 20th minute.
The advantage would double 10 minutes later.
Ricardo Garcia won a ball outside his own box and made a beautiful pass from just outside the halfway line to
D'Alessandro Herrera streaking up the right channel. Herrera would then shovel a pass to
Joby Reid just outside the 18-yard box. He held off a defender and laced his own left-footed shot to the back of the twine, a second goal for the Huskies that mirrored the opener.
EIU didn't go quietly and put three strong looks on target in an eight-minute span midway through the second session, all saved by Aitken. As the clock hit the 81st minute,
Ron Pressler made a strong run down the left flank and was shoved in the back just inside the penalty area, a foul that resulted in a red card and a penalty kick.
Ryan Okerayi was on point from the spot, knocking home his fourth penalty kick of the season for his second goal of the night that finished off the scoring.
Okerayi collected the first brace of his career, upping his team-leading goal count to seven on the season. He put three of his four shots on the night on target and had his third game-winner of the year with the opening strike.
Joby Reid's third goal of the season was the second tally in his last three while also notching his team-best fourth assist of the season.
D'Alessandro Herrera registered his first two helpers of the season, his third career game with two assists.
Alex Aitken earned his sixth shutout of the season, making five saves against 13 shots. It was the 18th clean sheet of his career, tying him for the top spot all-time with former keeper and former Head Coach Benny Agosto.
All told the two teams were even on the night at 13 shots apiece with the Huskies getting one more on goal, 6-5. Ben Griffis and Fabricio Roberti led the Panthers with two shots apiece while goalkeeper Lucas Ortiz made three saves for EIU, now 1-7-2 overall and 0-3-1 in the OVC.
HCU improves to 7-3-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the OVC to move into second place in the league and first in its four-team pod. The Huskies were the only league team to taste victory on Thursday evening, as the other three matches ended up in draws.
The Huskies hit the midway point of conference action and conclude the quick two-game set at home when they host Western Illinois University on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm. That match will be the back-end of a doubleheader with the women's team, who takes on rival University of the Incarnate Word at 1 pm.
#DawgsUp
