COMMERCE, Texas – Defending Southland Conference Tournament champion HCU women's soccer begins the 2026 tournament as the No. 2 seed against tournament host and No. 7 seed East Texas A&M at the Lion Soccer Complex this Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m.
The Huskies (9-3-7, 5-0-5 SLC) haven't lost a match since a 2-0 road defeat to SMU on Aug. 30, a 14-match span without a loss that is tied for the third-longest in the nation behind UNC Wilmington (19 matches) and Vanderbilt (17 matches). During that stretch, HCU has out-scored its opponents by a 30-15 margin and allowed more than one goal just two times. Since a 4-4 draw with Tarleton State on Sept. 6, the Huskies have held opponents to just one goal or a shutout in 12-straight games.
Earlier on Monday, the Huskies had a league-high seven players announced as all-conference selections. Sophomores Isabella Alamo and Gisele Kehres were first team selections while Paisley Barela, Jasmine Diaz, Isabella Dillow, Olivia Rossman and Mikaela Valentine were all second team honorees.
HCU wrapped up the regular season in second place in the conference standings with 20 points, just three points shy of first place Lamar. East Texas A&M (4-7-7, 3-3-4 SLC) snuck into the tournament, earning the No. 7 seed by virtue of a tie-breaker with Southeastern as both schools finished with 13 points.
The two teams met in Houston on Oct. 22, playing to a 1-1 draw. Rossman staked the Huskies to an early 1-0 lead with a goal in the 17th minute but Allyson Reed scored the equalizer for the Lions in the 62nd minute. ETAM out-shot the Huskies, 12-6, but HCU held a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal.
The winner of Tuesday night's matchup will go on to face the winner of No. 3 Northwestern State and No. 6 McNeese on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:00 p.m.
