FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University Men’s soccer team (0-1) took a 2-1 loss in the home opener to Howard Payne University at Martin Field on Friday night.

Both teams came out cautious, feeling each other out until Howard Payne took a shot that was blocked in the third minute of play. Each team traded long shots, and made runs at goal, but solid defense from both teams kept the game at nil. It was not until the 38th minute of the first half that Wesleyan got a chance to go ahead with a penalty kick from a foul on the keeper. Adam Pierce took the PK and made it count, sending it into the back of the net to score the Rams' first goal of the season. The Yellow Jackets could not answer and trailed 1-0 at half time. 

The Yellow Jackets came out in the second half and put pressure on the Rams defense. In the 55th minute Wesleyan’s defense slipped, and Howard Payne scored off of a fluke header by Chris Thompson to give the Yellow Jackets the equalizer. HPU put another one in this time in the 62nd minute, when Reese Lawson beat Dejan Milosevic to give the Yellow Jackets a 2-1 lead. The Rams picked it up and made a desperate effort to tie the game, possessing the ball for most of the time remaining, but could not find the back of the net, taking a hard 2-1 loss.

Pierce led the Rams with four shots, three on goal, scoring one.  

Lawson led HPU with four shots, three on goal, scoring one. 

Howard Payne took 16 shots, eight in the first half and eight in the second. Wesleyan took 13 shots, nine in the first, and four in the second half of play. Wesleyan saw seven corners to Howard Payne’s one. Both teams recorded three saves in the contest. Howard Payne was called for 16 fouls, while the Rams were called on 24 fouls.

The Rams will take on Wayland Baptist tomorrow, Saturday, August, 27 at 7:30 p.m.