Houston Christian University Head Coach
Ryan Pratt announced on Tuesday morning the addition of two more signings to the 2026 recruiting class in transfer Henrik Sakshaug and freshman Charlie Smith.
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A 5'11 midfielder from San Antonio, Sakshaug played his first collegiate campaign in the Big 10 at the University of Maryland, making seven appearances with one start for the Terrapins.
Sakshaug was a member of the San Antonio FC academy program where he was a part of the 2022 squad that won the USL championship.
PRATT ON SAKSHAUG: (Hen-rick Socks-howg)
"Henrik is a creative attack minded midfielder who covers a lot ground defensively and who's end product is consistently very high. He will be a very good fit for our group defensively and will add a spark to our attack. We are delighted to be adding him to our program."
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A 6'2 goalkeeper from Hertfordshire, England, Smith prepped for the Aldenham School. He was the starting keeper for his last three years of high school and also the captain of the tennis team.
Smith plays for the ISFA National Team as well as for Hertfordshire County, where he has recently reached the national finals.
PRATT ON SMITH
"Charlie will provide great competition for our goalkeeping position. He is a technically gifted keeper with the ability to make impressive reflex saves."
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Sakshaug is the seventh transfer while Smith becomes the third rookie to join the 2026 recruiting class, which now moves to double-figures at 10.
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December 12: Noah Fernandes / Clarenns Sainrimat
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December 16: Callum Niven / Samuel Sebagabo
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January 14: Ryan Anderson / Mateus Baptista de Souza / Andrew Dillett
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March 5: Ninor Olu
HCU finished its third season in the Ohio Valley Conference with an 11-5-3 mark overall and a 5-3-2 ledger in the league. The Huskies recorded the most victories in a single season since the 1990 team won 14 and are now 10-5-5 in league play over the past two seasons.
The Huskies claimed half of the leagues six major awards and for the second straight season had seven players earn honors.
D'Alessandro Herrera was named Midfielder of the Year for the second time,
Alex Aitken collected Goalkeeper of the Year honors and
Joby Reid was named Freshman of the Year, the third straight season for HCU to claim that honor.
Ryan Okerayi and
Nico Kross joined Herrera and Aitken on the All-OVC first team, with
Ricardo Garcia being named to the scond team. Reid and
Ben Thirkill were selected to the All-Freshman squad.
Herrera
recently signed to play for the Houston Dynamo 2.
The Huskies advanced for the second straight year to the Ohio Valley Conference championship match, both of which have gone double-overtime with this being the first in the three years of the OVC to go to penalties.
#DawgsUp
