MARSHALL, Texas- The Howard Payne University men's soccer team (5-9-2, 2-6-1) lost to the East Texas University Tigers (7-6-3, 3-3-3) by a score of 5-1 on Thursday evening at the Cornish Soccer Field in the penultimate match of the season.

Howard Payne conceded the first goal of the match in the 22nd minute of the match when East Texas Baptist countered the Yellow Jackets against the run of play through Joshua Daley. Daley then collected his first half brace seven minutes later.

ETBU then added a third goal right before the half was over. The Tigers found their fourth goal of the match just past half time. Howard Payne almost pulled a goal back in the 49th minute. when the ball was playing pinball between several Yellow Jacket players before ultimately falling to sophomore midfielder Andrew Womack who pulled his shot wide of the goal.

Sophomore goalkeeper Adrian Villa then saved a penalty and the rebounding shot to keep the score at 4-0. The Tigers ultimately found their fifth goal in the 63rd minute.

Freshman forward Connor Parker scored his fifth goal of the season after good build up play from the Yellow Jackets allowed senior midfielder Xzavier Saldana to flick the ball into his direction to bring the scoreline to 5-1 in the 71st minute.

Villa tied the Howard Payne men's soccer record for the most amount of saves made in a game with 18. The Yellow Jackets' record was set by Ryan Young against Our Lady of the Lake in September 2013. Villa was already establishing himself in the HPU record books with his previous career high of 14 that was against Hardin-Simmons University on October 4, 2025. On the offensive end, Howard Payne struggled to get into an attacking rhythm. The Yellow Jackets had 11 shots and three on target.

Up Next: The Howard Payne University men's soccer game will play its final match of the regular season when the Yellow Jackets will travel to Belton, Texas to play the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders at the Cru Soccer Complex on Saturday, October 31 at 7:30 PM.