BELTON, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowboy soccer team won the 2025 American Southwest Conference men's soccer championship in penalty kicks after playing through two overtimes to a 1-1 draw with Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday night.
 
The Cowboys finished with five makes on penalty kicks to only three from UMHB, with near-perfect shots coming from Jerron Garcia, James Webb, Daniel Villagomez, Gabriel Rodriguez, and Benny Lube to win the ASC championship and earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
"Three weeks ago, we were in dire straits and thought our season was over," said Cowboy soccer head coach Brad Bankhead. "That makes this championship mean so much more and speaks to this team's character. We played our brand of soccer and once again were able to prove that we belong on the national stage. Proud of these men."
 
The Crusaders opened the scoring with a goal in the 25^th minute, but the Cowboys got a goal to tie the game at 1-1 in the 26^th minute from Korbin Raef with an assist from Benny Lube, and that is where the score stayed through 110 minutes of double-overtime soccer.
 
The Cowboy defense held strong and Carson Null collected nine saves at goalkeeper to keep the game tied and force penalty kicks. Hardin-Simmons finished with 13 shots and six on goal to 23 shots and ten shots on goal by UMHB.
 
Benny Lube, Gabriel Sias, and Korbin Raef were each named to the ASC championship all-tournament team. Cowboy keeper Carson Null was named the ASC championship tournament MVP.
 
The Cowboys complete back-to-back ASC men's soccer championships and look forward to the release of the NCAA Tournament bracket on Monday, Nov. 10. at 10:30 a.m. on NCAA.com.
 
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