Talladega trio, Wiley's Cayasso claim Week 7 HBCUAC Men's Soccer Awards

October 14, 2025

NEW ORLEANS - October 14, 2025 - Talladega College midfielder Malachi Daniel garners Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player of the Week. Jared Smeins captures Freshman of the Week. Tariq Singh earns Newcomer of the Week. Wiley University defender Juan Cayasso takes home Defensive Player of the Week. The men were honored for their performance between October 6-12, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Daniel, the captain of the Tornadoes, scored two goals in a 4-0 victory over Tougaloo College on Wednesday. He put up nine shots with six on goal. Talladega is tied for first in the HBCUAC East Division.

Cayasso helped the Wildcats prevent Oakwood from getting a shot on Saturday as they recorded their third straight shutout. He contributed offensively with his first career goal in the 86th minute.

Smeins contributed two assists to lead Talladega to its first HBCUAC victory. He put up six shots with one on goal.

Singh recorded a shutout against Tougaloo College. He made two saves against Oakwood on Monday. Singh ranks in the top five of the HBCUAC in saves and goals against average.

Additional men's soccer weekly nominees: Kelvin Gardner (Tougaloo), Jayce Graves (Wiley), Alvaro Guerrero (Wiley), Manuel Guevara (Huston-Tillotson), Christian Kisukulu (Huston-Tillotson), Mauricio Olivares (Huston-Tillotson)

2025 HBCUAC Men's Soccer Players of the Week

Date	Offensive	Defensive	Freshman	Newcomer
August 25-31	Anthony Ulloa, Wiley	Kevin Nievas, Wiley	Kevin Nievas, Wiley	N/A
Sept. 1-7	Manuel Guevara, Huston-Tillotson	Kevin Nievas, Wiley	Manuel Guevara, Huston-Tillotson	Ian Hernandez, Wiley
Sept. 8-14	Anthony Ulloa, Wiley	Daniel Rojas, Wiley	Kevin Nievas, Wiley	Tariq Singh, Talladega
Sept. 15-21	Omar Ponce, Huston-Tillotson	Juan Acosta, Huston-Tillotson	Omar Ponce, Huston-Tillotson	Bienvenie Bisimwa, Paul Quinn
Sept. 22-28	Helix Owusu, Tougaloo	Daniel Rojas, Wiley	Alvaro Guerrero, Wiley	N/A
Sept. 29-Oct. 5	Alejandro Barcena, Wiley	Kevin Nievas, Wiley	Alejandro Barcena, Wiley	Ian Hernandez, Wiley
Oct. 6-12	Malachi Daniel, Talladega	Juan Cayasso, Wiley	Jared Smeins, Talladega	Tariq Singh, Talladega

About the HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.