HOUSTON – On Wednesday afternoon, HCU head women's soccer coach Nick Whiting announced the Huskies' full 2026 schedule featuring nine home dates and notable road matchups against Texas and SMU as HCU defends its 2025 Southland Conference title.
"We are looking forward to all the challenges this season will bring," said Whiting. "While we are proud of last season and everything we accomplished, we know this is a new year and we are looking to build upon that success. Our team worked hard in the spring and grew a lot. It's always sad to see some wonderful senior graduate and move on, but we are excited for our new additions and what they will bring as student-athletes to HCU."
HCU will first take the field for an exhibition matchup against the Sam Houston Bearkats in Huntsville on Aug. 7 before opening the 2026 campaign against the Texas Longhorns in Austin on Aug. 12. The Huskies will then play their next three games in the Bayou City, first playing across town at Durley Stadium against Texas Southern on Aug. 16 before hosting the Rice Owls at Sorrels Field on Aug. 20 for the team's home opener and then facing Louisiana Tech a week later at home on Aug. 27.
Non-conference play continues with a trip north to Dallas for a Sunday, Aug. 30, matchup against SMU followed by a cross-border trip to take on Grambling State in Grambling, La. on Sept. 3. The Huskies will be back at home on Sept. 6 to take on the Tarleton State Texans with Southern coming to town the next Friday, Sept. 11. HCU then closes out non-conference play with a short trip northwest to play Prairie View A&M in Prairie View on Sept. 13.
"The Southland continues to keep improving as a league and will be as competitive as ever," added Whiting. "We have a tough non-conference schedule to help us prepare for those battles that we will undoubtably face!
Southland Conference play begins on Thursday, Sept. 17 with a home matchup against the Nicholls Colonels with a 10-day break until the Huskies head south to take on UT Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg on Sept. 27. HCU then hosts Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 1 in a rematch from the 2025 SLC Championship Game before welcoming Southeastern to Sorrels Field on Oct. 8. Consecutive matches in Louisiana will be next up for HCU, facing McNeese in Lake Charles on Oct. 11 before traveling to Natchitoches on Oct. 15.
The home stretch of the conference slate begins with a home match against East Texas A&M on Oct. 22 before a trip to Corpus Christi to play the Islanders on Oct. 25. Senior Day will take place on Nov. 1 at Sorrels Field with a visit from Lamar before closing the regular season against UIW in San Antonio on Nov. 5.
The 2026 SLC Tournament is slated to begin on Nov. 10 in Commerce, Texas with ETAMU serving as the host institution.
