Houston Christian University Athletics

HOUSTON --- Houston Christian University began the Ohio Valley Conference slate with an impressive 2-1 victory over longtime rival University of the Incarnate Word at Sorrels Field on Saturday evening. A defensive first half opened up as the second half progressed in the latest chapter between the two I-10 rivals with HCU's win knotting the all-time series with the Cardinals.
 
The first 45 minutes saw just six shots total, with each team holding strong in their final third. The only shot on goal came from Clarenns Sainrimat with 45 seconds remaining in the half, an attempt saved by Victor Salmeron.
 
It didn't take long for the second half to turn to a quicker pace. With just over six minutes gone, Cezar Onut was clattered in the box, drawing a penalty after review. Ryan Okerayi would put a laser into the bottom left corner, giving the Huskies the upper hand, 1-0.
 
HCU then put together five shots over the next 11 minutes, with Okerayi nearly doubling the lead in the 65th minute on a hot shot saved by Salmeron to his right. Exactly three minutes later, the lead would indeed double, as Marcos Moore claimed a Okerayi header out of mid-air with a right-footed strike into the back of the net to put the hosts ahead by two in the 68th minute.
UIW pulled one back just under four minutes later, as Juan Monreal outworked a couple of defenders with some fancy footwork before nicking a shot past Harvey Heeps to make the count 2-1 with just over 18 minutes to play.
 
From there, the Huskies continued their solid work in the back, holding off several late runs by the Cardinals, which included a last second missile from Aarush Kamath that went wide left.
 
The Huskies outshot the Cardinals 16-6 on the evening, including 6-2 on goal while also earning seven corners to four for the visitors which included a 4-0 advantage in the second half.
 
Okerayi put home his third goal of the year and recorded his second assist on the goal by Marcos Moore. The goal by Moore was the first of his career. Harvey Heeps made one stop on the night to earn his third win of the season.
 
Monreal got his first goal of the season on his only shot attempt of the evening. Salmeron made four saves for the Cardinals, who fall to 1-5-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the OVC.
 
HCU is now 3-4-2 overall and 1-0-0 in conference action. The win levels the all-time series with Incarnate Word at 10-10-4, and the two teams will hook up once again in the Alamo City on October 23.

The Huskies will take to the road next week for a pair of matches, heading to the valley to take on UTRGV on Thursday before a Sunday afternoon date with defending OVC champion Lindenwood in St. Charles, Missouri in a rematch of the double-overtime, penalty shootout OVC championship match from a year ago.
 
 
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