HOUSTON – The reigning Southland Conference champion HCU Huskies women's soccer team begins Southland Conference play at Sorrels Field on Thursday evening with a 6:00 p.m. kickoff against the Nicholls Colonels.
 
The Huskies (4-3-2) are unbeaten in their last four matches, earning three wins and one tie during that stretch. Last week, HCU earned a pair of 3-1 wins over Southern and Prairie View A&M with the defense limiting opponents to a combined three shots on goal. During HCU's unbeaten run, Isabella Dillow has scored in three-straight matches and has a pair of assists while Paisley Barela also has three goals and two assists. Olivia Rossman has two goals and two assists during that stretch while Madison Stormberg has scored twice with an assist.
 
Nicholls (2-3-3) heads into the match following a 2-1 home loss to Southern Miss after playing Prairie View A&M to a 1-1 draw on the road last Thursday. Fifth-year midfielder Alyssa Wheeler leads the Colonels with five goals, tied for second-most in the conference, and has three assists. Three other Nicholls players have four goals each as the Colonels have out-scored opponents 27-16 this season. In goal, Aislinn Wright has a 2.14 goals against average with a .667 save percentage.
 
The Huskies are 13-1-1 all-time against the Colonels, losing the first meeting between the two programs before winning 13-straight and playing to a 1-1 draw in Thibodaux, La. last year.
 
HCU will have more than a week off following Thursday's match, next visiting Edinburg, Texas on Sunday, Sept. 27, to face UT Rio Grande Valley at 11:00 a.m.