DEER PARK, Texas — September 3, 2026 — It is another night of Texas soccer for North American University, and this time the Stallions are bringing both sides of the program to the Deer Park Soccer Complex.

The NAU Lady Stallions and Stallions will meet Huston-Tillotson University in a Thursday night doubleheader, with the women opening the evening at 5 p.m. before the men take the field at 7 p.m.

Both NAU teams enter tonight looking to build on what they showed in their most recent matches.

For the Lady Stallions, it is about turning a strong performance into a result.

For the Stallions, it is about keeping the momentum rolling.

LADY STALLIONS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK

The Lady Stallions enter tonight at 0-2 following Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the University of St. Thomas.

The record may not tell the entire story.

NAU battled St. Thomas for 90 minutes, answering every time the Celts found the back of the net. Darla Artola scored the first collegiate goal of her career in the 44th minute to tie the match at halftime, while Alexia Velazquez later found the equalizer in the 86th minute.

Unfortunately for NAU, St. Thomas answered again just 105 seconds later with the eventual game-winner.

The Lady Stallions finished with 12 shots and six shots on goal, while goalkeeper Arely Sarabia recorded four saves.

Now comes the opportunity to turn that fight into three points.

And there is some history involved.

A familiar opponent

Huston-Tillotson is not a new opponent for NAU.

The Rams defeated the Lady Stallions 2-0 last season, with Caroline Valencia scoring both goals.

That makes tonight more than just another game on the schedule.

It is another opportunity for NAU to answer.

And after scoring four goals against Wiley to open the season before putting two more on the board against St. Thomas, the Lady Stallions have already demonstrated that the offense can create opportunities.

Now they need to finish them.

COLON LEADS THE ATTACK

One player who has already shown she can change a match is Genevieve Colon.

Colon exploded onto the 2026 season with a hat trick against Wiley, scoring three times and adding an assist in NAU's season opener.

Tonight, the Rams will have to account for an attacking player who has already proven capable of creating problems in multiple ways.

But this NAU attack is not a one-player show.

Artola has now scored her first collegiate goal. Velazquez has found the net. The midfield continues to develop, and NAU has continued to create chances despite dealing with injuries.

The question for the Lady Stallions tonight is simple:

Can they turn those chances into goals?

MEN'S SOCCER LOOKS TO KEEP ROLLING

If the women's match is about responding, the men's match is about continuing to build.

The Stallions enter tonight 1-1 after Tuesday's impressive 3-1 victory over St. Thomas.

And there were plenty of reasons to like what NAU showed.

Three different Stallions scored.

Felipe Hernandez Carrasco opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, with Sandile Mdauli providing the assist.

After St. Thomas tied the match, Flynn Faulkner put NAU back in front in the 62nd minute, again with Mdauli setting up the goal.
 #10 Flynn Faulkner

Then Fernando Lopez Montoya put the match away in the 77th minute off a corner from Reynaldo Vanegas.

Three goals.

Three different scorers.

Two assists for Mdauli.

That is the kind of offensive balance NAU will need tonight.

BIG L WAS REALLY BIG

Of course, there is no way to talk about Tuesday's victory without talking about Lutho "Big L" Mkaba.

St. Thomas put 15 shots on goal.

Mkaba stopped 14 of them.

Fourteen.

The Stallions goalkeeper delivered one of those performances that can completely change the course of a match, keeping NAU in front when St. Thomas continued to pressure the goal.

In front of him, captain Charlie Wells, the Big Man, helped lead the defensive effort with 21 tackles.

That combination will be tested again tonight.

HUSTON-TILLOTSON BRINGS FIREPOWER

The Rams enter tonight after opening their season with a 3-3 draw against Wayland Baptist.

That match should get NAU's attention.

Huston-Tillotson put 12 shots on goal in the contest and received goals from Hank Sullins, Alejandro Cruz and Daniel Cerda.

In other words, the Rams can score.

NAU's defense will have to be ready from the opening whistle.

The Stallions just faced a St. Thomas team that generated 23 total shots and 15 shots on goal.

Tonight presents another test against an opponent capable of putting pressure on the NAU back line.

TWO MATCHES. ONE NIGHT. ONE STAGE.

Thursday night represents another step in NAU Athletics' continued relationship with the Deer Park community.

The soccer complex has already welcomed Stallions soccer this season, and tonight both teams return for a full evening of Texas soccer.

The Lady Stallions kick things off at 5 p.m.

Then at 7 p.m., the Stallions take the field.

Two programs.

Two different storylines.

But the same goal:

Walk out of Deer Park with a win.

For the Lady Stallions, it is a chance to answer a tough start and turn Tuesday's fight into Thursday's result.

For the men, it is a chance to prove Tuesday was not a one-night performance.

And for both teams, it is another opportunity to represent North American University in front of the Houston-area soccer community.

The Stallions are back in Deer Park.

5 p.m. — Lady Stallions vs. Huston-Tillotson

7 p.m. — Stallions vs. Huston-Tillotson

Deer Park Soccer Complex

Admission is free.

Let's Ride, Stallions.