In Sunday's action, HCU got a penalty kick goal from All-Conference performer Ryan Okerayi to top UMass Lowell 1-0, while UTRGV scored in the 88th minute to secure a draw with Stetson.
UTRGV 1, STETSON 1
EDINBURG, Texas. - In the last 10 minutes, the crowd of 358 was silenced as the Stetson (SU) Hatters pulled ahead 1-0, but Vaqueros sophomore Sammy Jadid delivered an equally stunning equalizer in the 88th minute to force a 1-1 draw Sunday.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros (1-0-1) men's soccer team earned one point against the Hatters in their home opener during the Sunday morning match at UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
In the waning minutes of the match, Jadid received the deep ball from sophomore Jonah Gasho. In a sea of four green jerseys, Jadid found the trailing freshman Matheo Mondy just outside the box. Mondy passed it back to Jadid who centered a delivered a screaming shot off his left foot to the bottom right corner of the goal.
The Hatters (0-1-1) got on the board after a corner kick rattled in the box and was buried into the net by William Mills in the 81st minute.
In the first half, neither offense generated much momentum. The Hatters offense was kickstarted by launching deep balls with the winds at their backs and the Vaqueros tried to use short passes to create opportunities.
In the 15th minute, the Vaqueros earned their first corner opportunity after forcing tons of pressure in the midfield and taking advantage of a good counterattack.
A series of passes from created a solid offensive opportunity as senior captain Mouhamed Pouye delivered a low cross to sophomore Diego Rivera in the middle of the box, but Hatters goalkeeper Matthew McCall corralled the shot with a diving save in the 38th minute.
In the waning minutes of the first half, the Vaqueros created another good look as Rivera connected with junior Elias Taj, but Taj's header went just wide of the right side of the goal. The Vaqueros and Hatters went into the half tied at 0-0.
Sophomore goalkeeper Conrad Knight picked up his first save of the match after catching a dart from Matthew Perez on his right hip.
UTRGV outshot Stetson 10-9 with a 5-3 shot on goal advantage. Knight finished with two saves while Hatters goalkeeper Matthew McCall racked up four saves.
HCU 1, UMASS LOWELL 0
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.
JACKSONVILLE 5, UIW 1
SAN ANTONIO - The University of the Incarnate Word men's soccer team fell to Jacksonville, 5-1, on Sunday night at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.
Jacksonville struck first in the 24th minute, capitalizing off a corner kick opportunity. Four minutes later, UIW answered on its first corner of the night. Reagan Gyedu scored his first goal as a Cardinals of a cross from Danny Elizalde. Elizalde has now recorded an assist on both of UIW's goals this season.
At halftime, Jacksonville held a 2-1 advantage, while also leading in shots, 6-to-4.
The Dolphins controlled the match in the second half, scoring three more times while holding the Cardinals to their lone goal.
Diego Robles lead the team in shots, recording four, including three on goal, but was unable to convert.