By Alan Wiederhold
HT Athletic Communications
 
GEORGETOWN, Texas – Huston-Tillotson University's women's soccer team took a step in the right direction Tuesday as the Rams claimed their first point of the 2026 season with a scoreless draw at Southwestern (Texas).
 
The draw snapped a two-match losing streak for the Rams, who improved to 0-2-1 in 2026. HT and Southwestern tied for the second time among the teams' last three matchups; the Rams and Pirates drew 1-1 in Georgetown in 2022.
 
Junior goalkeeper Juliet Morales-Martinez (Burnet, Texas / Burnet) started for the Rams and was credited with the individual tie after making one save before halftime. Tatiana Castillo, a freshman from Mission, Texas (Sharyland) made her collegiate debut in the second half and made one save while she and her defense turned away multiple late attacks.
 
Kiara Leitón Amador (San Jose, Costa Rica / Seward County [Kan.] CC) and Kamryn McMath (Stockton, Calif. / Trinity Valley CC) both played all 90 minutes and helped anchor HT's defensive line.
 
The Rams also had several opportunities to break the tie in the second half with NCAA Division I transfer Mariyah McCrae (Anchorage, Alaska / Jacksonville University) giving the Pirates the most trouble. Twice she got past single defenders and took solid shots but were off target both times.
 
McCrae also led an attack five minutes after halftime that produced HT's best chance at a goal. After moving past a defender, she found teammate Emily Guerrero (Waco, Texas / Hill College) open for a solid shot inside the penalty area that was saved by Southwestern goalie E.J. Searfoss. Kennytzia De La Torre-Arias than had shot off the rebound, but her attempt was high.
 
Southwestern was the second NCAA Division III and Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference program HT has faced this season. The Rams opened the season with a hard-fought 1-0 setback at Concordia Texas in northwest Austin.
 
Tuesday's draw was HT's third in eight all-time contests against Southwestern, all of which have been played in Georgetown. The Pirates lead the all-time series 5-0-3, though last year's win over HT does not appear on Southwestern's results as it was played in August 2025; NCAA Division III programs cannot play countable games until Sept. 1.
 
The Rams return to action Thursday when they head to greater Houston area to face North American University. North American began its athletics program this decade and was a conference opponent of the Rams in the Red River Athletic Conference for two seasons before HT moved the HBCU Athletic Conference in 2025.
 
HT's women's soccer team has won all four prior matchups against North American, with the Rams outscoring the Stallions 10-0 in those matches.
 
The Rams and Stallions kick off a women's-and-men's doubleheader Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Deer Park Soccer Complex, located east of Houston at 901 East Boulevard in Deer Park, Texas.

– HT –