AUSTIN, Texas – HCU women's soccer, coming off the third NCAA Tournament appearance in program history last season, begins year three under head coach Nick Whiting on Wednesday evening at Mike A. Myers Stadium and Soccer Field against the Texas Longhorns at 7:00 p.m.
HCU won a program record 12 matches last season, including sweeping through three games at the Southland Conference Championship Tournament. This year, the Huskies were picked tied for third in the SLC preseason poll and received one first place vote.
The Huskies return seven starters from 2025 and 18 letterwinners from last year's squad. Among those returners are the team's top four goalscorers from a year ago, including senior Isabella Dillow and junior Ella Remy who each found the net five times in 2025. Senior Olivia Rossman finished the year with four goals, including the golden goal game-winner against SFA in the SLC Championship game, while sophomore Paisley Barela caught fire at the SLC Tournament, scoring three goals en route to All-Tournament honors.
In goal, junior keeper Emmy McKeon was a three-time SLC Goalkeeper of the Week honoree last season as she won eight games with six shutouts, both of which tie her fourth fourth-most in a single season at HCU. Through her two seasons with the Huskies, she ranks third in all-time saves per game (5.12, tied for fourth in career shutouts (10), fifth in career saves (169), sixth in save percentage (.797), sixth in goals against average (1.32) and sixth in wins (12).
The Longhorns are beginning their first season under Margueritte Bates following a 2025 campaign that ended with a 4-12-1 mark. Texas is led by sophomore Ava McDonald and junior Amalia Villareal who scored nine and eight goals last year, respectively, and accounted for roughly two-thirds of the team's goals. Texas will have a new starter in goal with three transfer keepers on the roster.
The Huskies and Longhorns have faced off twice previously with Texas earning wins in each meeting in Austin.
Following Wednesday's match, the Huskies will return to Houston to next face Texas Southern at Durley Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 16 at 1:00 p.m.
