COMMERCE – Serving as hosts of the 2026 Southland Conference Soccer Tournament, the East Texas A&M University soccer team has earned the seventh seed and begin the postseason on Tuesday night against second seed HCU. 

The Lions went 3-3-4 against Southland opponents, being unbeaten in their last six matches, totaling 13 points for seventh in the standings, while HCU, the defending conference tournament champion and NCAA Tournament participant, did not lose a match in conference play, going 5-0-5 for 20 points, finishing second. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Lion Soccer Field.  
 
The winner of the match will advance to face the winner of third-seeded Northwestern State and sixth-seeded McNeese on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the semifinal round. The Lady Demons and the Cowgirls battle at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The other three teams to qualify for the SLC Tournament are Lamar, UIW, and Nicholls. Lamar, the No. 1 seed, receives a bye into the semifinals. 
 
The Lions have advanced to the conference tournament championship match twice in the last four seasons. This year's championship match is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 15.
 
In the regular season, the Lions and the Huskies tied each other 1-1 in Houston on October 23. HCU is 2-0-1 over the Lions over the past two seasons, including a 4-0 win in the first round of last year's conference tournament. 

Tickets for this year's Southland Conference Tournament are on sale and can be purchased now HERE. 
  
All matches of the Southland Conference Soccer Tournament will be broadcasted on ESPN+. The full tournament schedule can be found below. More information on the tournament can be found HERE.
 
2026 SOUTHLAND SOCCER TOURNAMENT - COMMERCE, TEXAS | LION SOCCER FIELD
First Round - Tuesday, November 10
Noon – No. 4 UIW vs. No. 5 Nicholls
3:30 p.m. – No. 3 Northwestern State vs. No. 6 McNeese
7 p.m. – NO. 2 HCU AT NO. 7 EAST TEXAS A&M
 
Semifinals – Thursday, November 12
3:30 p.m. – No. 1 Lamar vs. Match 1 winner
7 p.m. – Match 2 winner vs. Match 3 winner
 
Championship Match – Sunday, November 15
1 p.m. – Match 4 winner vs. Match 5 winner