HOUSTON – A score from the spot in the 75th minute by
Ryan Okerayi and a stellar all-around defensive showing handed Houston Christian University its first victory of the 2026 campaign, a 1-0 decision over visiting UMass Lowell at Sorrels Field on Sunday night.
The first 45 minutes saw just four total shots, all on target and from four different Huskies. After intermission, the two teams continued their defensive stalemate, with UMass Lowell finally putting a shot on HCU goalie
Harvey Heeps in the 67th minute.
In the 75th minute,
Ryan Okerayi was taken down in the box, earning a penalty. His left-footed strike from the spot was dead on, giving HCU their breakthrough for the game and season.
From there, the Huskies saw things across the finish line with strong play in the back third. HCU put aside two UMass Lowell corners in the last 10 minutes, including one in the 90th minute.
HCU outshot the River Hawks 12-5 overall and 6-1 on goal to avenge a 1-0 loss to UML last year at Sorrels Field. The Huskies denied all nine of Lowell's corners in the match.
Okerayi's goal opened his account for the 2026 campaign, his 22nd career goal. It was his seventh career penalty kick which also moved him into fourth place alone with eight career game-winners. The senior forward now has put home four game-winning goals in the 75th minute or later during his time on Fondren Road.
Harvey Heeps was the beneficiary of a total team effort defensively that handed the freshman his first career clean sheet.
The Huskies (0-1) will finish off the three-match season-opening homestand on Thursday when it hosts UC San Diego at Sorrels Field. That match is scheduled for a 7:30 pm kick-off as the back-end of a doubleheader with the HCU women, who face Louisiana Tech at 5 pm.
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