🆚 UMass Lowell
📆 Thursday, August 28, 2025
⏰ 7:30 pm
🏟️ Sorrels Field – Houston, Texas
📈 LIVE STATS
🗒️ GAME PROGRAM
Houston Christian University returns to the pitch on Thursday night as it hosts UMass-Lowell in a 7:30 pm kick-off at Sorrels Field. The second leg of a season-opening three-match homestand will be the also be the back half of a twin-bill with the HCU women, who take on College of Charleston at 5 pm.
After Thursday's opening night versus Drake was cancelled due to inclement weather in the Houston area, the Huskies began their season on Sunday evening with a convincing 4-0 result over University of the Pacific.
HCU had four players put their names on the scoresheet against the Tigers with the four goals scored by the Huskies being the most in a season opener since a 5-1 win over Oral Roberts to open the 2014 campaign. It was the first time since 2023 against Eastern Illinois to have a quartet of different players hitting the back of the net as HCU put up 15 shots, including nine on target.
D'Alessandro Herrera opened up the team's account in the 37th minute with a blistering left-footed score from just inside the top of the area, giving the Huskies a one-nil lead at the break.
Ricardo Garcia then had a go from deep straightway at the hour mark to double the lead.
Ryan Okerayi earned his first points of the season 15 moments later with a beautiful run to the area and slot home for HCU's third goal of the evening.
Ron Pressler capped off the scoring when he cut inside for a right-footed missile in the 81st minute.
Herrera and Okerayi's goals were the 13th of their careers respectively.
Joby Reid had two assists in his debut, while
Anis Harrar,
Ben Calder,
Nico Kross and Pressler each added a helper as well.
Alex Aitken, the all-time leader at HCU in saves, picked up the first clean sheet of his senior campaign for his 13th career shutout. It was also his 17th career victory in the pipes for the Huskies, inching him closer to second place all-time.
He and
Nico Kross were honored on Monday as the OVC announced its first weekly awards for the 2025 season. Aitken picked up his fourth career Goalkeeper of the Week honor, while Kross, a transfer from East Tennessee State, picked up his initial Defensive Player of the Week honors after a solid debut in the back that also included an assist on the Pressler goal.
HCU will take on UMass Lowell Thursday in the first meeting ever between the two schools. The River Hawks come to Sorrels Field for the first of two games in Texas with a 1-1 mark after splitting a pair of home matches to open the season. UML defeated St. Peter's 2-1 last Thursday in its season opener before falling to Long Island 1-0 this past Sunday afternoon.
The Hawks, who finished 6-5-5 overall last year while posting a 1-4-2 mark in America East play, return three of their top four point scorers. Olvier Holmstrom, a senior midfielder from Gavle, Sweden leads the returners having scored four goals last year, while senior midfielder Calvin Scholten from Hengelo, Netherlands had two goals and two assists last year.
HCU closes the homestand on Sunday when it takes on Gonzaga University. It will be the second straight week that HCU and Incarnate Word will flip-flop opponents, as after Thursday's action UMass-Lowell will travel to San Antonio for a Sunday matinee with the Cardinals and Gonzaga comes to Houston for an evening tilt on Fondren Road.
#DawgsUp
