Houston baseball made a statement over the weekend, brutally sweeping Grambling State.

The Cougars outscored the Tigers 46-9 in the series and have scored 102 runs in the past seven games.

Junior infielder Cade Climie, who played outfield during the series, went 4-for-7 with three home runs, one of which was a grand slam, seven runs scored and seven RBIs.

“Started the year a little slow. It was hard at first. The guys kept pushing me up, lifting me up to help be where I need to be,” Climie
said.

With the win, UH improves its record to 11-4 and nabs its fourth series win of the season.

Houston wins the opener in grand fashion

The Cougars took home the first game in grand fashion, 17-5, thanks to two grand slams on Friday. It was the first time the Cougars hit two grand slams in the same game since Jake Stewart accomplished the feat in 2008.

Climie got the first grand slam in the first inning to give UH a 6-0 lead.

Three innings later, sophomore outfielder Tre Broussard hit a grand slam of his own in the fourth down the left field line and over
the wall to make it 15-1 Cougars.

Before the second grand slam, senior infielder Aaron Lugo made a 3-run home run in the bottom of the third, making it 9-0.

Climie made the team’s final home run of the night, a lead-off long ball to make it a 16-1 game.

“We feel good. This is what we expected going into the year, and I think we are starting to fire on all cylinders,” Climie said.

Grambling looked like they were attempting to make a comeback late in the game, with four runs scored between the seventh and eighth inning, but it was just a consolation as Houston won the one-sided affair.

Junior pitcher Paul Schmitz got the win to go 3-1. He pitched five innings, striking out two batters, allowing just three hits and one earned run.

Houston wins game two in a shutout

A rinse-and-repeat of the last game, only this time the Tigers couldn’t muster up a single point as Houston destroyed Grambling State, shutting them out 16-0 to take game two on Saturday.

An all-around performance from the Cougars on both sides of the ball saw them get their first shutout win of the season in another demolition of the Tigers.

“It feels good, especially getting conference play next week,” McGinnis said.

UH’s offense was on point during the game, turning 15 hits into 14 RBIs.

The Cougars hit four more home runs. Climie and sophomore catcher Riley Jackson hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the third.

Redshirt sophomore first baseman Xavier Perez hit a solo home run in the fifth. And Broussard made a 3-run homer in the seventh inning for his second of the series to make it 18 runs scored off eight home runs.

Grambling’s offense was kept quiet, as they only made two hits the entire game.

For the first time since March 6-8 2013, Houston recorded 10+ runs in a three-game stretch.

Senior pitcher Graysen Drezek got the win to go 2-0. He pitched six innings, striking out four batters, giving up only two hits, and
allowing no runs.

Junior infielder Connor McGinnis went 3-4, with three runs scored and two RBIs.

Perez went 3-5, with two runs scored and four RBIs.

Cougars bring out the brooms as they sweep Grambling

Despite not dominating to a degree like the last two games, UH won, 13-4, to sweep away the Tigers on Sunday.

This marks the team’s first series sweep of the season and their fourth series win.

The Cougars went full metal mayhem in the second inning and scored 10 runs, including back-to-back RBI singles, a 2-run single and three walks when the bases were loaded to take an 11-0 lead.

Grambling would score four runs between the fourth and fifth innings, but Houston still led 13-4 at that point.

Despite the Cougars going the last four innings without scoring a run, the Tigers couldn’t muster anything thanks to strong pitching and
fielding from Houston, as they completed the sweep.

The Cougars have scored 10+ runs in consecutive games for the first time since April 2002 when they beat Texas A&M 10-0 on April 9, 2002 and then swept Memphis Apr. 12-14 by scores of 15-1, 15-3 and 16-6.

Graduate pitcher Antoine Jean got the win to go 2-0. He pitched 1.1 innings, striking out three batters.

Sophomore pitcher Diego Luzardo got his first save of the season. He pitched three innings, striking out five batters and having only
one hit against him.

Junior infielder Tyler Cox went 2-3, with two runs scored and three RBIs.

“Four wins in a row, going into a big game against Sam Houston and then Big 12 play is absolutely huge. Just building on that momentum,” Cox said.

UH will look to keep the good times rolling as they travel to Huntsville on Wednesday, Mar. 12, to take on Sam Houston in the second game of the Don Sanders Cup. Then, they will return home for their first Big 12 season series against Texas Tech from Mach 14- 16.

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“Houston baseball dominates in first series sweep over Grambling State” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard Milos Uzan (7) flies in the air to catch the ball over Texas Tech guard Elijah Hawkins (3) during the first half of an NCAA men’s college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

After defeating Iowa State on Saturday, the Cougars are back on the road again. They will travel to Lubbock, Texas to face the No. 10 Texas Tech Red Raiders in a rematch bound to level up the intensity of this rivalry as they seek to earn a share of the Big 12 title.

High stakes, high rewards

With four games remaining, Houston leads the Big 12 standings with a 15-1 record, three games ahead of Texas Tech and the No. 22 Arizona Wildcats. With the Wildcats losing to BYU on Saturday, the Cougars can clinch a share of the Big 12 regular-season title with a win over the Red Raiders.

“We feel good about being in that position. We just got to capitalize on it. We know we’re right there. You gotta go out there and get that done. We know it’s not going to be given to us. We got to go take it,” graduate guard L.J. Cryer said.

Last time

The two in-state rivals previously met over three weeks ago on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Fertitta Center. The game ended with the Red Raiders winning 82-81 in overtime, snapping Houston’s nation-best 33-game home winning streak in the process. The match was full of twists and turns, including Texas Tech sophomore forward JT Toppin and coach Grant McCasland both getting ejected. The Cougars haven’t forgotten about the loss and are bringing their toughness to the United Supermarkets Arena.

“We base our program off toughness. They [Texas Tech] do too. We’re going to bring that edge and we expect it to be that type of game,” Cryer said.

Stoppin Toppin

The Coogs didn’t fully experience Toppin the first time, as he was ejected early in the first game. But the team knows what kind of impact he has on the Raiders. He is their leading scorer with an average of 17 points per game and collects the most rebounds as he averages nine a contest.

“He’s a leader to those guys. I think the better he plays, the better they are. He’s the team’s anchor and everybody knows he’s a big piece. Just try to contain him and limit the stuff he’s good at gives us the best chance to win the game,” graduate forward J’Wan Roberts said.

No rest for the weary

UH only had one full day of rest before being thrust back on the road. The grueling 20-game conference schedule has been discussed throughout the season, and coach Kelvin Sampson has openly criticized it in interviews. Despite this, the team is getting used to it.

“I feel like it’s more of a mental thing, especially pitting two of the top teams in the Big 12,” Roberts said. “Just going to Lubbock with the right mentality and focusing on what we want to focus on. I think it’s more of a mental thing, especially playing back-to-back games.”

Houston takes on Texas Tech in Lubbock, on Monday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

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“No. 4 Houston men’s basketball seeking revenge against No. 10 Texas Tech” was originally posted on The Cougar

ESPN College Gameday bus parks outside the Fertitta Center ahead of their Saturday morning show, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

On Saturday, Feb. 22, ESPN College GameDay will return to Houston for the first time since 2019 for a matchup between the No. 5 Houston Cougars and No. 8 Iowa State Cyclones.

The two teams will face off for the first time this season at 1 p.m. inside the Fertitta Center.

The Cougars are currently 22-4, leading the Big 12 with a 14-1 conference record.

ESPN announced the return of College GameDay on Friday, Feb. 14, which generated excitement among students across campus. 

Fans are ecstatic that UH is receiving national recognition after several years, which is attributed to coach Kelvin Sampson’s efforts in building a successful program.

“Having College GameDay here shows that the nation is starting to notice the Houston Cougars,” management freshman Jared Bautista said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to show on the national stage that we can make a deep run in March Madness.”

Students around campus expressed gratitude that their team’s efforts are being recognized on a national level.

“I’m looking forward to the game,” english senior Jack Croft said. “It’s nice to see our team getting the coverage they deserve and I hope Fertitta Center will be as loud and intense as possible.”

Some students view the return of College GameDay as more than just an exciting event for the players and fans.

“I think College GameDay coming to Houston is important for the community,” communications senior Andrew Wach said. “The increased buzz surrounding the show brings more publicity, with celebrities, content creators and other athletes joining the broadcast. With the city’s vibrant culture and the motto ‘For the City’, adds an extra layer of meaning to what it means to be a Cougar. The bond among the community extends beyond the sport itself.”

Due to expected inclement weather, the doors of the Fertitta Center will open at 7 a.m. for all fans, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

All students and fans will enter through the doors off Holman Street and be directed into holding areas inside until they are guided to their seats. Students will take their seats at 7:30 a.m., while other fans will be seated at 8 a.m.

Donuts and coffee from Shipley’s will be provided while supplies last. Students are encouraged to arrive early to participate in the State Farm Half-Court Shot Challenge, where one lucky participant can win $19,000, courtesy of State Farm. Contestants will be randomly chosen from the waiting line at 6:45 a.m.

“College GameDay creates a sense of pride and excitement, encouraging students to represent their school and arrive early,” broadcast journalism junior Dylan Garcia said.

Saturday is shaping up to be an exciting day for Cougars fans.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“‘For the City’: Students celebrate Cougars’ national spotlight on ESPN College GameDay” was originally posted on The Cougar

Courtesy of SFA Athletics

Houston Athletics named Ben Williams the new head coach of Houston soccer, making him the seventh head coach in the program’s history.

The move is currently pending approval from the UH System Board of Regents.

“I am truly honored to join the University of Houston and lead the soccer program,” Williams said in a statement. “I’m incredibly eager to return to the city where I spent four fantastic years.”

The Liverpool, England native comes to UH after spending last season as head coach at Stephen F. Austin. In his lone season with the Ladyjacks, he led the team to the largest single-season turnaround in Division I with a 14-4-2 record in 2024 after they went 2-14-2 in 2023.

The Jacks went on to win the Southland Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships and made it to the NCAA Tournament. For his efforts, Williams was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year.

Williams also has experience playing at the collegiate level for the Oklahoma Wesleyan Hawks from 2011-2015. In four seasons, he won three regular-season conference championships, and two conference tournament championships and participated in four national tournaments, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2013. 

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“Ben Williams to serve as next Houston soccer coach” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston forward J’Wan Roberts (13) hangs off the rim after dunking the ball over OSU during the first half of an NCAA college men’s basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

It was not easy, but No. 5 Houston men’s basketball battled tooth and nail to beat Colorado 69-59, Saturday at CU Events Center.

It was a one-possession game with just over five minutes left, but Houston showed its toughness to close the game and take home the win.

“Proud of our kids today,” coach Kelvin Sampson said. “We kind of knew how we wanted to finish the game.”

A big part of the Cougars’ win was their 15 offensive rebounds, which turned into 18 second-chance points.

First half 

Houston started the game fast and furiously.

Redshirt sophomore guard Terrence Arceneaux made a layup that kicked off a 9-0 run for the team which was capped off with graduate guard Mylik Wilson scoring after making a steal.

After Colorado got their first points of the game following a timeout, the Cougars continued to assert their dominance and took a 14-3 lead with 13:43 left thanks to a three-pointer from junior guard Milos Uzan and a layup from graduate guard L.J. Cryer.

The Buffaloes did not back down from this setback and went on an 11-0 run to tie the game 14 a piece with 10:49 left, capping off the run with a layup from freshman guard Felix Kossaras.

“Kudos to Colorado kids and to Tad and his coaching staff,” Sampson said of the Buffalos, who are 0-12 in conference play. “They are fighting their butts off.”

UH then scored six straight, including a layup and a three-point field goal from Cryer to take a 20-14 lead.

After a three-pointer from Colorado senior guard Julian Hammond III, graduate forward J’Wan Roberts made back-to-back layups to give the Coogs a 24-17 lead with 7:22 left.

After the Buffaloes scored four straight, Cryer made a layup to give Houston a 26-21 lead.

After Colorado sophomore forward Assane Diop scored two free throws to cut the lead down to three, Uzan made a big three-pointer to help extend the Cougars’ lead by six.

The half ended with the Cougars up 31-27.

Second half

Houston started the half off strong, going on an 8-3 run to take a 39-30 lead including back-to-back three-pointers from Arceneaux and Cryer.

Hammond then made two 3-pointers to cut the Cougars’ lead down to three.

Roberts then cashed in on a three-point play to give UH a 42-36 lead.

With 10:04 left, the Cougars found themselves leading 48-39.

The Buffaloes then made two huge 3-pointers and cut the lead down to three.

Two free throws from Arceneaux and a layup from Uzan gave Houston a 52-45 lead with 7:30 remaining, but Colorado would go on a 7-2 run to trail only 54-52 with 5:49 left and showed no signs of backing down.

UH showed their grit thanks to hard-nosed defense and working the paint, allowing the Cougars to outscore the Buffaloes 15-7 the rest of the way.

Houston’s poor perimeter defense was a big reason why Colorado was able to stay in it, as they made nine 3-pointers 

Cryer had 15 points and six rebounds and Roberts had 20 points on 9-11 shooting, including 14 in the second half.

For the Buffaloes, Hammond had 22 points, shooting 7-13 from the field and 5-7 from downtown.

“He played good today,” Sampson said. “He hit some howitzers.”

Houston improves their record to 19-4 and 11-1 in conference play.

They will look to continue their winning ways on Monday, Feb. 10 at home when they face the Baylor Bears in an in-state showdown.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“No. 5 Houston men’s basketball plows past Colorado Buffalos” was originally posted on The Cougar

Fiona Legesse / The Cougar

On Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m., the University of Houston and people worldwide will gather around their television sets for the NFL’s premier event: the Super Bowl. For six months, 32 teams fought tooth and nail for a spot in New Orleans, and now only two remain.

High stakes battle

Once again, the Kansas City Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, represent the AFC. The Chiefs will look to make history by winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy for three straight seasons.

Representing the NFC are the Philadelphia Eagles, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts and MVP nominee running back Saquon Barkley. The Eagles are in their second Super Bowl in three seasons and are looking to win it for the first time since the 2017 season.

This year’s event will be a rematch of Super Bowl 57, where Kansas City beat Philadelphia 38-35.

These two teams will enter the Caesars Superdome, but only one will walk out as champions.

Student and faculty opinions

In anticipation of this event, UH students and faculty gave their opinions on how they feel about this game, how it will play out and who will win.

The referees will receive a lot of attention because they have been accused of favoring the Chiefs on multiple occasions.

“Won’t be easy for the Eagles, what with Kansas playing with 18 players at all times,” finance senior Juan Bustamante said.

On Tuesday, The NFLRA and Roger Goodell said that the assumptions are ridiculous and insulting.

While Kansas City and Philadelphia aren’t the most likable teams on campus, there must be a winner.

“Might be in the minority here but I actually would not be mad if the Chiefs won this year, only because that means DHop (DeAndre
Hopkins) gets a ring,” media production junior Daniel Rodriguez said.

Others believe the Eagles’ running game is enough to push them over the edge and allow them to fly away with the Chiefs’ triple-crown chances.

“I’m a fan of neither of the teams, not that they’re not good,” Director of DSA and Center for Student Media Lawerence Daniel. “I will say ‘Fly, Eagles Fly’. The Eagles will win 24-10, and I think Saquon Barkley is going to be the MVP. They’re gonna catch the Chiefs off-guard.”

Some think that the matchup is too close to call and give valid reasons for both teams to win.

“It would be a moment in history if Kansas City wins cause no team has ever won three in a row,” media production professor Craig Crowe said. “At the same time, I think the Philadelphia Eagles have the ability to stop that, especially with the two young guns. They have the ability to overcome the Chiefs’ defensive schemes. It’s just can Philadelphia’s defense overcome what’s going on in Kansas City.”

And for others, their fandom for either team is so strong that they let out a battle cry:

“Cawwwwwwww,” sociology junior Arturo Martinez said.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“UH students, faculty make predictions ahead of Super Bowl LIX” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

After three seasons, Jaime Frias announced his resignation as the head coach of Houston soccer, UH Athletics announced on Thursday.

Frias entered the role in Feb. 2022, when Houston was still in the American Athletic Conference. The Coogs finished the 2022 season with a 6-7-3 record.

Frias led the Cougars into the Big 12 Conference for the 2023 season. After starting 6-1-1, they finished with an 8-8-2 record, including two Big 12 wins.

In Frias’ final season, the team started with a 3-2-1 record, but once conference play began, the season turned, as the ladies in red only won one out of their 10 conference games.

A national search for a new head coach is already underway.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“Jamie Frias resigns as Houston soccer’s head coach” was originally posted on The Cougar

Camryn Alberigo/The Cougar

The first season of the Willie Fritz era of Houston Cougars football is in the books. While the defense showed major improvement, the offense was a disaster that left fans searching for answers.

From inconsistency with scoring points and the red zone to a lack of explosiveness, a lot could have gone better this season. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the team.

Despite the 4-8 record, they showed glimpses of what the team can become in their four wins and won some significant games. With that being said, The Cougar attended the 2024 Houston Cougars Football Awards where they honored the best players and moments throughout the season.

Best Offensive Performance: Zeon Chriss vs. Kansas State

Spoiler alert: offensive-based award winners were extremely hard considering the state of the Cougar’s offense this season. But there were some bright spots, such as sophomore quarterback Zeon Chriss’s performance against the then No. 17 Kansas State Wildcats.

Chriss completed all 11 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown, with a passer rating of 208.7 and a QBR rating of 74.6.

He also ran 22 times for 75 yards, including a clutch 41-yard touchdown that would help UH win the game.

Best defensive performance: A.J. Haulcy vs. TCU

Many candidates were considered for this award considering how good Houston’s defense was but junior defensive back A.J. Haulcy takes it for his performance against the TCU Horned Frogs. He made seven tackles and two interceptions in the 30-19 win.

His performance earned him Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors and a spot on the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week.

Best moment: Beating Kansas State for first win against a ranked opponent since Oct. 30, 2021

Beating any ranked opponent during the season will help with a team’s momentum and that is exactly what happened on Nov. 2, when the Cougars, who were 13-point underdogs, beat KSU to win their first game against a ranked opponent in three years.

Not only that, but it showed that the team can contend in the Big 12. Things may have gotten sour after the win, but this game showed the team’s potential to succeed in a bigger conference.

Best Offensive Player: Zeon Chriss

Like with the Best Offensive Award, choosing a recipient was hard considering how poor Houston’s offense was during the season. But narrowly taking the award is Zeon Chriss.

He may have put up similar counting stats to senior quarterback Donovan Smith, but he showed how dynamic he is, particularly against TCU and Kansas State.

MVP and Best Defensive Player: AJ Haulcy

And rounding off the awards,  Haulcy took both MVP and Best defensive player for being the heart and soul of the Coog’s defense. Haulcy tied for the Big 12 lead in interceptions and tied for the third in the nation, finished second in Big 12 passes defended, and second on his team in tackles.

He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and made the Pro Football Focus of the Week for his performance against the Frogs.

One notable stat is that he is one of only eight Big 12 players to have two interceptions in a game and the only one to do it in a road game. For his efforts, he made the AP All-Big 12 Conference First Team as a defensive back.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“Column: 2024 Houston Cougars’ football awards” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston guard Gigi Cooke (3) dribbles the ball down the court as Kansas State moves in to surround her during the first half of an NCAA college WomH

Houston women’s basketball fell to the No. 12 Kansas State Wildcats 74-55 on Wednesday at the Fertitta Center.

The teams entered the fourth quarter tied 51-51, but the Wildcats went on a 23-4 run to close the game.

“For 34 minutes, I thought we did everything we could to win the game until we started to go downhill,” coach Ronald Hughey said.

In the first quarter, both offenses started hot out the gate, as the Wildcats led 6-5 within the first two minutes of play. 

Kansas State would then go on an 11-4 run to take a 17-9 lead with 3:40 left; however, Houston kept it close to trail only by six at the end of the quarter.

To begin the second quarter, the two teams went right at each other, with the Wildcats taking a 25-20 lead early on. 

Kansas State would then score 10 straight points to take a 35-20 lead midway through the quarter. 

The Cougars answered back with back-to-back jumpers from graduate guard Eylia Love and scored seven straight points to cut the score to 37-27 at halftime.

Houston found themselves down by 10 with 4:20 left in the third quarter. UH would then go on a 12-2 run the rest of the quarter to tie the game 51-51.

Houston went just 1-16 from the field in the fourth and went scoreless for seven straight minutes.

“Everyone wanted to play hero ball,” Hughey said. “We got away from what we were doing.”

Three Wildcats players scored 15 points, including graduate center Ayoka Lee, senior forward Temir Poindexter, and senior guard Jaelyn Glenn. 

Senior guard Serena Sundell was one assist away from a triple-double finishing with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.

The Cougars had two players reach double-digit points in the game. Love had 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks and graduate guard Laila Blair had 12 points, three assists and three steals.

With the loss, UH falls to 4-9 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

Houston’s next game is Saturday against the Arizona State Sun Devils at 6 p.m. inside the Fertitta Center.

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“Fourth-quarter struggles sink Houston women’s basketball in loss to No. 12 Wildcats” was originally posted on The Cougar

Houston midfielder Juliet Moore, back, heads the ball while Sam Houston defender Jasmine Dybala, front, watches during the second half of an NCAA college soccer match, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024 in Houston, Texas. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar

Another year means another season in the books for the ladies in scarlet red. There were highlights and lowlights, joyful victories and heartbreaking defeats.

With that being said, soccer beat writer Sean Paul takes a look at what the Cougars offered this season, honoring the best players and best moments of 2024.

Best performance: Juliet Moore’s hat trick vs Texas State

Hat tricks are arguably the best feeling to have in a soccer match and on Sept. 1 against Texas State, senior midfielder Juliet Moore accomplished just that.

“It was a long time coming,” said Moore. “It wasn’t something that happened overnight. I think it was a lot of hard work, and also a lot of encouragement from the team.”

Juliet gave the Coogs a 2-0 lead 20 minutes into the match, but the Bobcats tied only seven minutes into the second half. But Moore would score a volley for her third goal to give Houston a 3-2 win.

It was the first hat trick in Cougar history since Sept. 23, 2016, when Desiree Brown scored three against New Mexico State.

“It’s cool and I’m very happy,” said Moore, when asked how it feels to be a part of UH history.

Best goal: Alexis Fowlkes

The Cougars scored only 11 goals this season, so picking the best goal was tough. But Alexis Fowlke’s absolute stunner of a goal vs Arizona takes the cake.

In the 52nd minute of the hotly contested Big 12 matchup, the ball got loose near the Wildcats’ penalty box. Alexis came out of nowhere and took the shot, which rocketed itself into the back of the net to score the only goal of the match to give UH a 1-0 victory.

Freshman goalkeeper Maggie Manning, who played in goal in that match, couldn’t believe what she saw.

“At first, I didn’t think it was going in because I couldn’t see a thing. And then I saw the ball hit the back of the net, and I was overwhelmed with joy,” Manning said.

Best moment: UH beats Arizona for first Big 12 win since Oct. 8, 2023

The Cougars celebrate their first Big 12 win of the season in an NCAA pink-out soccer match on Oct.13. | Emma Christensen/The Cougar

Before their Oct. 13 home game against the Wildcats, the Cougars had a ten-winless streak in Big 12 matches, with their last win in conference play dating back to Oct. 8, 2023, when they beat the Kansas Jayhawks 2-0.

But on this day, Houston would achieve their best victory of the season thanks to a Fowlkes goal and a wonderful performance from Manning in goal.

Newcomer of the year: Maggie Manning

When Manning found out she would be taking over starting goalkeeper duties for the rest of the season, she immediately felt the pressure. While she struggled early, she gained a lot of confidence throughout the season.

She also had her best game in her young, college career against the aforementioned Arizona Wildcats, where she made a career-high nine saves, including a saving penalty, on route to her first clean sheet.

“Every save I get, I get more confidence. I have the strength to get the next one and the next one,” said Manning.

 Best defensive player: Alex Whitcraft

The defense was a major weak point for Houston, as they conceded 38 goals in 17 games or 2.24 goals per game.

But there were some, such as senior defender Alex Whitcraft. Manning said that Whitcraft was one of two defenders she had the most trust with on the field.

“We were constantly communicating with each other. I know Alex vs Cincinnati made one save off the goal line. That was crazy,” Manning said.

 Best offensive player and MVP: Juliet Moore

Houston midfield Juliet Moore during the second half of an NCAA college soccer game, Thursday, September 19, 2024 in Houston, Texas. | Gillian Wisniewski/The Cougar

Finally, rounding off our awards is Juliet Moore, who takes both Season MVP and Best Offensive Player. Moore played 16 games this season, scored five goals and compiled 10 points, which are both team highs.

When asked what the strongest part of her game was during the season, Moore says it all comes down to confidence.

“I struggled with that early on, and eventually it just became you have the ability, you have the skills to trust in it. I think that was a big part of it,” Moore said.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“Column: The 2024 women’s soccer awards” was originally posted on The Cougar