READING — The Penn State Berks Men's Soccer Team had their second game in two days as they hosted Howard Payne University. The Nittany Lions went down early in the first half, earning a goal with three minutes left in the contest. Berks looked to comeback but another Yellow Jackets goal saw the Nittany Lions fall to Howard Payne 3-1 on Thursday, September 10.
Berks fell into an early 2-0 deficit after Howard Payne scored in the eighth minute on Kolby Lara's goal from Connor Parker and added another in the 12th minute.
Josh Martin kept the margin there with a save on Xzavier Saldana in the 16th minute, and the Nittany Lions answered with
Terridine Grant's shot on goal less than two minutes later.
Callan Stuck added a shot in the 31st minute as Berks continued looking for a response. The home side generated a late set-piece push with corner kicks at 36:42 and 44:07, including
Peter Austin's saved shot and another Grant attempt, but Howard Payne took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
The Nittany Lions cut into the deficit at 86:26 when
Sebastian Rios scored to make it 2-1, but Howard Payne answered at 86:54 on Francisco Perez's goal assisted by Axel Gutierriez. Earlier, Berks generated pressure with three corner kicks and three shots in an eight-minute stretch, including saved attempts by Stuck and
Nicolas Harrison.
Josh Martin kept the Blue & White within reach with multiple second-half saves as Howard Payne created chances through the middle of the half and again after the 73rd minute. Berks continued to press late with two more Stuck shots, an
Emir Hamzic attempt saved by Logan Laminack and an 88:21 corner, but Howard Payne closed out the match with a 3-1 final score.
Rios scored the Nittany Lions' goal on his only shot attempt. Stuck led the team with four shots. Martin finished with six saves while playing all 90 minutes in goal.
WHO'S NEXT
Up next, Berks travels to Greensburg, Pennsylvania, to face Greensburg on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m.
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