HOUSTON – The 2025 regular season kicks off for HCU women's soccer this Thursday evening across town against the Rice Owls at Holloway Field as the Huskies begin year two under head coach
Nick Whiting.
The Huskies begin the season with 16 returners from a 2024 squad that finished 5-9-5 overall with a 3-4-3 mark in Southland Conference play. Junior forward
Olivia Rossman, a two-time second team all-SLC selection, leads those returners after scoring a team-best six goals last season with five of those coming in conference play. Also back for the Huskies is sophomore goalkeeper
Emmy McKeon who ranked third in the SLC last year with 4.94 saves per game.
Additional returners for HCU include senior Alexia Murillo and junior Emma Smith, a defender and midfielder who both started all 19 games last year. Along with the 16 returners from last season, the Huskies roster includes seven transfers and 10 freshmen.
The Huskies won an exhibition matchup over Sam Houston, 1-0, last Thursday evening at Sorrels Field with
Tiana Thompson scoring the game-winning goal.
Rice is coming off a 12-6-2 season a year ago that saw the Owls place fourth in the American Athletic Conference standings and reach the AAC tournament semifinals. Leading the Owls' returners is senior midfielder Leah Chancey, the 2024 AAC Offensive Player of the Year. Chancey finished last season with nine goals and four assists. Sophomore defender Lily Reuscher started every game last year and earned AAC All-Freshman honors.
The Huskies will next travel to Stephenville, Texas for a matchup against the Tarleton State Texans on Sunday, Aug. 17, at 1:00 p.m.
