The Howard Payne Men’s soccer team took down the no. 1 team in the ASC, UMHB 4-0 Saturday afternoon, clinching the programs first ASC tournament berth in its young 4 year history. 

Two goals by Shane Cazad, one in the first and one in the second half got ball rolling for the Jackets.

First thirty-eight minutes of the game was great save after great save by both keepers.

In the thirty-ninth minute HPU broke the silence with a goal from Shane Cazad, assisted by senior Malcolm Wentworth.

Only one minute later HPU was fouled twenty five yards from the goal setting up a free kick for Jaime Benitez. On the kick, Benitez connected with Malcolm Wentworth, Wentworth flicking the ball on a header into the back of the net, taking HPU’s lead to 2-0.

The first half ended 2-0. HPU Keeper, Francisco Medina, had 8 saves in the first half alone, many of them finger tip saves.

Thirty three seconds into the second period, Shane Cazad struck again shooting a laser from thirty yards out and scoring, UMHB keeper, Mark Miller, never having a chance. That goal put the nail in the coffin for UMHB, taking the HPU lead to 3-0.

To add insult to injury, another HPU senior, Brice Reusink, added one last goal in a may lay in the box, to make the final score 4-0.

HPU keeper, Francisco Medina, ended the game with 9 saves, and as a team HPU had 3 themselves.

Fouls were even, 12-12. Shots on goal, UMHB had the advantage 12-9. HPU had no corners to UMHB’s 7.

The HPU win takes their season record to 9-7-1, and 8-4-1 in the American Southwest Conference. UMHB drops only their second in conference, going to 13-3-0 overall, and 11-2-0 in ASC.

Next for the HPU men is the ASC Tournament. It’ll be held in Belton, Texas at the Cru Sports Plex on November 6-7-8.