{"id":403908,"date":"2026-08-11T21:38:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T21:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/403908\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T21:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T21:38:14","slug":"houston-soccer-opens-2026-season-at-fgcu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/403908\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston Soccer Opens 2026 Season at FGCU"},"content":{"rendered":"

FORT MYERS, Fla. \u2014 The University of Houston Soccer team opens season two of the Ben Williams<\/a> Era when it faces FGCU at 6 p.m. CT Thursday at Pickering Field at the FGCU Soccer Complex.<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE COUGARS<\/p>\n


\n\tThe Cougars went 7-4-7 in Williams’ first season, an improvement from a 4-12-1 record in 2024.
\n\tHouston returns 14 players from the 2025 season including three players that missed last season due to injuries.
\n\tAmong those returning is All-Conference standout Samira Minor<\/a> who earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Big 12 Freshman Team after leading the Cougars with six goals.
\n\tThe Cougars return more than 70 percent of their production from last season as 24 of the team’s 34 goals are back along with 62.5 percent of assists also returning.
\n\tHouston welcomes 15 newcomers including eight transfers and seven freshmen.
\n\tFive of Houston’s opponents are featured in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll \u2014 Vanderbilt (5), TCU (6), Kansas (15), West Virginia (20) and Memphis (21) \u2014 while Baylor received votes in the opening rankings.
\n\tThe Cougars face four opponents for the first time this season. Houston faces FGCU, Northwestern State, Abilene Christian and Vanderbilt for the first time in program history.
\n\tFifth-years Ella Morgan<\/a> and Morgan Donohue<\/a> along with junior Casey Maddox<\/a> were voted captains for the 2026 season. <\/p>\n

ABOUT FGCU<\/p>\n


\n\tFGCU is the reigning ASUN Graphite Division Champion.
\n\tThe Eagles return 14 players from the 2025 squad.
\n\tAll-Conference Selections Ryanne Robinson and Maderia Brome return for the Eagles.
\n\tThe Eagles went 11-5-2 in 2025. <\/p>\n

HISTORY WITH FGCU<\/p>\n


\n\tThis is the first meeting between Houston and FGCU. <\/p>\n

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\u2212 UHCougars.com \u2013<\/p>\n