Head Coach Ryan Pratt and the 麻豆视频 (HCU) men鈥檚 soccer team posted their best season since 2019, as the Huskies finished as the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) runner-up, losing in the tournament championship match.
HCU went 8-7-5 overall and 5-2-3 in conference play to earn a first-round bye in the postseason tournament. That regular season mark included a 1-0 defeat of SIU-Edwardsville (SIUE) handing the Cougars only loss in two seasons of OVC action. A 2-0 victory over Lindenwood in the tournament semifinals secured a spot in the championship match where the Huskies faced a rematch with defending champion SIUE. HCU fell in a double-overtime thriller where the Cougars scored in the 104th minute to claim a 3-2 victory and their second straight league title.
That loss couldn鈥檛 tarnish a fantastic turnaround for the Huskies. HCU went from not qualifying for the 2023 OVC tournament to being league-runner up in 2024, finishing one goal away from qualifying for the NCAA national tournament. The Huskies wrapped up the season with an 8-7-5 overall record, with the eight wins overall and five in conference play representing the most in a single-season since 2019.
Seven different players captured conference accolades, including senior Sam Zeeman as Defensive Player of the Year. He was named to the All-OVC first team along with league Freshman of the Year Morgan Worsfold-Gregg and sophomore forward Ryan Okerayi, who earned All-OVC honors for the second straight season.
Senior forward and captain Ethan Giwa-McNeil, junior goalkeeper Alex Aitken and junior midfielder D鈥橝lessandro Herrera were each selected to the second team, with Herrera earning All-OVC honors for the second straight year as well. Worsfold-Gregg and Theo Butterworth were selected to the All-Newcomer team to round out the season honors.
What a fantastic season and great group of young men. They were really focused on turning things around from the year before, when we were such an extremely young squad. To reach where we did is a testament to their hard work and desire. To get so close was both heartbreaking but exciting at the same time. We know we can still get better, and are dedicated to doing that going into next season.
Already back to work, the Huskies鈥� spring season features six matches from February 1 to March 6, including matches with three MLS II sides and an Alumni match on March 1 at Sorrels Field.