Houston Christian University Athletics

HOUSTON --- Houston Christian University rallied for a second-half equalizer before finishing a 1-1 draw with University of Southern Indiana on Thursday night at Sorrels Field.
 
The Huskies seemed to be in control as the first half waned on, aggressively attacking the offensive end and peppering the box with shots to the tune of an 11-3 edge. HCU thought they had their breakthrough but a point blank poke from Ryan Okerayi in the 26th minute was diverted by 6'6 USI keeper Kael McGowan.
 
Just over 10 minutes later, it was the Eagles who were screaming, as a centering pass from Tony Murphy found its way to Jimmy Murphy, who slotted it home to break the ice and hand USI a 1-0 lead with 10 to play in the first frame.
 
After 15 minutes of back-and-forth coming out of intermission, HCU would finally find the back of the net just past the hour mark. A beautiful build-up ended with a lead from Ryan Okerayi to the right channel finding Andrew Dillett. Dillett took a touch and laced a clean centering pass that ended on the left foot of a sliding Marcos Moore, knotting the score a one-apiece with half an hour still to go.
 
USI would get another crack 10 minutes later, but a shot from Tony Murphy was batted away by HCU keeper Harvey Heeps. The Huskies got several looks down the stretch, but could not find the go-ahead, leaving the teams just as they had started 90 minutes prior.
 
HCU finished with a 16-6 edge in shots, 4-3 on goal while earning six corners to just two for the visitors from Evansville.
 
Marcos Moore collected his second goal of the campaign. Ryan Okerayi had two shots on goal to go with his fourth assist of the season while freshman Andrew Dillett had a splendid first start for HCU, playing 83 minutes and recording his first career assist. Heeps made two saves for the Huskies.
 
Jimmy Murphy had his first goal of the season while Tony Murphy picked up his team-best fourth assist for Southern Indiana, now 1-6-4 overall and 1-2-1 in OVC play.
 
HCU goes to 3-4-4 overall and 1-0-2 in OVC play. The Huskies finish off the two-match stay on Fondren Road with a Sunday matinee against two-time OVC champion SIUE. The Cougars drew 1-1 with UIW on Thursday night in San Antonio.
 
 
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