ABILENE, Texas- The Howard Payne University women's soccer team lost a hard fought battle to Hardin-Simmons University Saturday evening.

Hardin-Simmons entered the match ranked first place in the American Southwest conference.

Howard Payne took the first three shots of the evening. However, The cowgirls out-shot the Lady Jackets 20-7.

The Lady Jacket defense held off the Cowgirls until the 81st minute of the match, when HSU scored off of a free-kick. HPU was unable to answer in the remaining nine minutes, dropping the match 1-0.

Kate Recendez, Addison Buesing, and Kendra Cecil had a shot on goal each for Howard Payne.

Goal keeper Delaney Castor played all 90 minutes for the Lady Jackets, made eight saves, and allowed one goal.

HPU falls to 8-5-1 on the season and 3-3-1 in American Southwest Conference action. HSU improves to 10-2 overall and 7-0 in conference play.

The Lady Jackets will return home to play East Texas Baptist on Thursday Oct. 21st at 1:00 PM at Citizens National Bank Soccer Field in Brownwood, Texas.