Jackets Fall To Ozarks

Lane Garrett, HPU Sports Information Intern

BROWNWOOD, Texas- The Howard Payne men's soccer team fell one goal short as they lost 2-1 to University of the Ozarks Friday afternoon at Citizens National Bank Field. 

The game was played on a field that had taken over an inch and a half of rain the night before, making playing conditions sloppy Friday afternoon.

The game was back and forth until sub, Anthony Santoro for Ozarks, came in and scored a goal off a deflection of a HPU player in the 25th minute.

At the half, that was the lone goal to have it 1-0 Ozarks.

Five minutes after the second half began, Ozarks struck again off a cross from Brandon VanCleave that found Scott Jander's shoulder to put the ball in the net, making it 2-0 in the 50th minute.

Only two down, the Jackets tried to mount a come back as brothers connected, Dennis Benitez to Jaime Benitez with a header off a free kick to score a goal, making it 2-1 with 21 minutes remaining in the game.

A heated second with three of four yellow cards in the game coming in the second half. Three for Jackets, and one for Ozarks.

It wasn't enough as Howard Payne had their chances but couldn't capitalize ending a hard fought game from both sides considering the fifty degree weather and wet field.

The HPU men take their record to .500 on the year at 5-5-0 overall and 4-3-0 in the ASC. The Ozarks goes to 7-4-0 overall and 3-3-0 in the ASC.

HPU next plays UT-Dallas Saturday, Oct. 10 at 3pm, in Brownwood, at Citizens National Bank.
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