Wiley men pull away in Second half, capture 2025 HBCUAC Soccer Championship
SHREVEPORT, La. - Wiley University men's soccer broke a 1-1 tie with three second half goals to top Huston-TIllotson University 4-2 to win the 2025 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Soccer Championship hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission Friday at Lee Hedges Stadium.
The Wildcats (9-3-2, 3-0-1 HBCUAC) win their first HBCU Athletic Conference title and second overall in program history. Their first came in 2015 as a member of the Red River Athletic Conference.
Wiley struck first in the 28th minute, when Juan Cayasso scored on a rebound of a shot by Juan Reyes. Huston-Tillotson evened the score in the 44th minute when Christian Kisukulu scored off a pass from Dominiq Munson Garza.
In the 68th minute, Alejandro Barcena was fouled by the goalkeeper Luke Phillps and earned a penalty shot. Aaron Castillo took the shot and put in for his fourth goal of the season. He connected with RIntaro Sakai, who increased the lead to two with his second goal in the 71st minute.
Huston-Tillotson (9-8-0, 2-2-0 HBCUAC) answered as Sebastian Landes scored off a corner kick by Manuel Guevara in the 74th minute. Four minutes later, Diego Rivas put in his third goal of the season to push the margin to two.
Wiley University's Ian Hernandez was named 2025 HBCUAC Men's Soccer Championship Most Valuable Player. His physical play helped the Wildcats maintain possession.
The Wildcats will find out their opponent and site for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Championship First and Second Round on November 14 at 5 p.m. during the NAIA Men's Soccer Championship Selection Show on the NAIA YouTube Channel.
2025 Men's Soccer HBCUAC All-Tournament Team
MVP: Ian Hernandez, Wiley
Alejandro Barcena, Wiley
Anthony Ulloa, Wiley
Juan Cayasso, Wiley
Jayce Graves, Wiley
Christian Kisukulu, Huston-Tillotson
Manuel Guevara, Huston-Tillotson
Juan Alvarado, Huston-Tillotson
Bruno Repholo, Paul Quinn
Daniel Duvall, Paul Quinn
Dujon Brown, Talladega
Christopher Syms, 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.