“Anything Can Happen”: Houston Christian Ready for NCAA Tournament Battle at LSU
(image via Southland Conference)
When the final whistle blew in Beaumont on Sunday afternoon, it was more than just a championship moment for Houston Christian University — it was a validation. The Huskies, led by head coach Nick Whiting, captured the Southland Conference title and punched their ticket back to the NCAA Tournament, marking a defining step for a program that’s steadily grown under Whiting’s leadership.
“It was great,” Whiting said. “We had so much fun in Beaumont winning the Southland tournament. It was a long week, but the girls did a great job. They were so proud of each other and worked for each other — it all came together at the right time. We always knew we had that ability to make a run, but it was great to see it come to fruition.”
Now, the Huskies head to Baton Rouge to face LSU in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night at 7 PM. It’s a marquee matchup against an SEC powerhouse, but one Whiting and his team are eager to embrace.
“They were excited,” Whiting said of his players when the draw was revealed. “We kind of hoped to stay in Texas, but once we saw the bracket unfold, we had a feeling LSU was coming. We know it’s going to be a challenge — LSU’s a big, physical team — but we’re going to go compete. Soccer’s crazy; anything can happen on any day.”
That belief has carried Houston Christian through a rollercoaster season. The Huskies started the year on a high, winning five non-conference games — the most in school history — but a slow start in Southland play briefly put their postseason hopes in doubt.
“To be honest, we were a little iffy for a while if we’d even make the conference tournament,” Whiting admitted. “But when we beat McNeese on senior day, it kind of relaxed everyone. It was like, ‘okay, now we’re in.’ From there, we started playing free and showing what we’re capable of.”
The turning point sparked a surge. HCU entered the conference tournament as underdogs and proceeded to take down the 1, 2, and 4 seeds on their way to the title. The Huskies have now won five straight matches, conceding just once in that span — a testament to their veteran defensive core.
“We’ve got an older group back there,” Whiting said. “Three seniors on the back line, a local freshman in Giselle (Kehras), and our goalkeeper Emmy (McKeon), a sophomore who’s part of our leadership committee. It’s hard to lose games when you’re not giving up goals. And we finally found the right combinations up front too, which made a big difference.”
Beyond tactics and formations, though, Whiting says the defining quality of this year’s squad is its perseverance and energy — from starters to reserves.
“We’ve got 33 on the roster, and everyone pushed through,” he said. “Even when players weren’t getting as many minutes, nobody’s head dropped. They were cheering for each other, feeding off each other’s energy. That unity really carried us.”
As they prepare for LSU, the Huskies are balancing excitement with focus. For these HCU players, this is their first NCAA Tournament appearance, and Whiting knows the moment can be both thrilling and overwhelming.
“The big thing is leaning on our leaders,” he said. “We’re so proud of what they’ve done — breaking the school record for wins, winning the conference — but we also know there’s still an opportunity to make more history. No Southland team has ever won an NCAA Tournament game. We want to be the first.”
No matter what happens on Friday night, this season, with a school-record 12 wins, already represents a major step forward for the HCU program — one that Whiting believes can reshape its trajectory and visibility.
“It keeps putting our name out there,” he said. “There are so many good teams in Texas, and we want people to know about HCU. It’s a beautiful campus, a great education, and now we’re showing that there’s real opportunity to play Division I soccer here. We want to move ourselves into that top-100 conversation nationally — that’s our goal.”
And doing it in Houston makes it even more special.
“It’s great because this city loves soccer,” Whiting said. “We’ve had support from other programs — Rice, the Dash, people reaching out. Houston’s such a competitive soccer city, not just for games but for attention, and we’re proud to represent it. There aren’t many cities that love the game like this one does.”
For Whiting, this week isn’t just about the matchup ahead, but the bigger picture — a team and a program that has grown together, broken new ground, and made the city take notice.
“I just really appreciate all the support for our girls throughout the year,” he said. “They’re great students, great people, and now they’ve performed on the field too. We’re proud of them, and we’re grateful that people are starting to buy into what we’re building.”
The Huskies will take the field Friday night at LSU, representing Houston Christian — and Houston — on the NCAA stage. And no matter the result, this season has already marked a new beginning.
🎙️ Full audio of our conversation with Coach Whiting is available on our YouTube and everywhere you get your podcasts.
