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HBCU Athletic Conference

West Division Showdown: Wiley, Huston-Tillotson meet for 2025 HBCUAC Championship Match

Wiley University rallied in the second half to defeat Paul Quinn.
Wiley University rallied in the second half to defeat Paul Quinn.
November 6, 2025

SHREVEPORT, La. - November 6, 2025 - The West No. 2 seed Huston-Tillotson struck first and held off East No. 1 Talladega College in a 2-1 victory in the first semifinal of the 2025 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Soccer Championship. West No. 1 seed Wiley University scored twice in the final 20 minutes to outlast West No. 3 seed Paul Quinn College in a 2-1 semifinal victory on Wednesday at Lee Hedges Stadium, setting up an all West championship match on Friday at 6 p.m.

The Wildcats and Rams have a long history against each other as they competed in the Red River Athletic Conference in 2005 and from 2011-2018. The schools played twice in HBCUAC play, with the Wildcats prevailing with a pair of 2-0 victories. They lead the overall series 7-4-0. Friday will mark the first time they've met the Rams in a postseason contest.

Wiley had a player at every position represented on the All-HBCUAC Team. Kevin Nievas earned Goalkeeper of the Year. Defender Juan Cayasso, midfielders Anthony Ulloa, Ian Hernandez, and forwards Aaron Castillo and Jayce Graves all earned spots on the team.

Ulloa and Graves led a balanced offensive attack with six goals. Barcena follows with five after his two goals in the semifinals. Ten players have contributed to the Wildcats 26 goals. Daniel Rojas and Kevin Nievas have not allowed a lot to get past them. Rojas leads the conference with a 0.58 goals against average and has posted three solo shutouts and contributed to four overall. Nievas is third with a 1.91 goals against average and has helped the Wildcats to four wins. Wiley has only allowed more than one goal in four matches.

Huston-Tillotson was represented on the All-HBCUAC Team with midfielder Alejandro Cruz. He was one of their players of the Week winners. Manuel Guevara, Omar Ponce and Juan Acosta, who is inactive for the tournament also won weekly awards.

Christian Kisukulu leads the Rams' offensive attack with eight goals. Five were during the HBCUAC Championship. Guevara follows with seven, he scored twice in the opening round match against Tougaloo College on Tuesday. Eleven players have contributed to 30 goals. Luke Phillips has stopped seven of the eight shots he's face during the tournament. In seven matches and four starts, he has a 0.96 goals-against average.

 

SEMIFINAL RECAPS

WEST No. 2 HUSTON-TILLOTSON 2, EAST No. 1 TALLADEGA 1

  • Kisukulu continued where he left off. He scored in the 17th and 20th minutes to give the Rams a 2-0 lead.

  • Christopher Syms pulled the Tornadoes within one in the 52nd minute

  • Saeed Charles had a chance to tie but his shot went wide in the 66th minute

  • Allen Antah had a shot stopped by Phillips in the 86th minute

  • Talladega Goalkeeper Tariq Singh stopped six shots

  • Phillips made five saves

  • The Tornadoes finish the season 3-8-0

 

WEST No. 1 WILEY 2, WEST No. 3 PAUL QUINN 1

  • Paul Quinn struck first when Kyan Pompolina's pass set up Bruno Repholo one-on-one with Wiley goalkeeper Daniel Rojas, putting the shot past him.

  • Wiley controlled the second half, spending most of it in the offensive end

  • After four shots hit the cross bar, Alejandro Barcena deposited a pass from Juan Reyes into the back of the net to tie the match in the 73rd minute.

  • Barcena struck again in the 84th minute, scoring off Rintaro Sakai's pass.

  • Paul Quinn goalkeeper Eduardo Bicca made saves on eight of 10 shots.

  • Daniel Rojas started the game and Kevin Nievas finished, getting his fourth win of the season.

  • Paul Quinn finishes the season 3-6-6.

 

FRIDAY's CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
WEST No. 1 WILEY UNIVERSITY vs. WEST No. 2 HUSTON-TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY, 6 p.m., Live Stats

 

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.