A first for Men's Soccer, another win for Volleyball & Swimming and Tennis action highlight some of Howard's weekend action in this weekend's Bison Weekend Roundup.
 
MEN'S SOCCER EARNS FIRST WIN IN THRILLING FASHION
 
WASHINGTON, DC --- After suffering through a 12-game losing streak to open the season, the Howard University Men's Soccer team finally claimed their first victory of the year with a come-from-behind, 3-2 win over Washington Adventist University Sunday afternoon at Greene Stadium.
 
By the 17th minute, Howard (1-12) found itself down 2-0 thanks to a pair of WAU (6-5) goals from in close.
 
The Bison would respond with under a minute left to play in the first half, as senior Mario Martin put away a shot from about 20 yards out to cut the Shock's lead in half, 2-1.
 
The second half would stay scoreless for nearly 30 minutes after intermission until Martin struck again. Martin would dribble from midfield through several WAU defenders and sent a shot even further than his first goal - 25 yards - to the back of the net to tie the game, 2-2.
 
With time running down and the game seemingly heading into overtime, the Bison made their biggest play of the season. In the final minute of regulation, freshman Jordan Rice send a left side crossing shot on goal, which was deflected by WAU goalie Daniel Olofinsua. Fellow freshman Samaila Samaila was in the right place at the right time as he corralled the ricocheted ball and scored the game winning goal, sending the team bench into a frenzy.
 
In a relatively high scoring game, junior goalkeeper Eric Hamilton narrowly edged his counterpart, allowing one less goal and making two more saves than Olofinsua in 90 minutes.
 
HU will hit the road for their next contest, traveling to the University of Delaware to face the Blue Hens on Wednesday, October 23 at 7:00 PM.
 
VOLLEYBALL BOUNCES BACK WITH SWEEP OF BETHUNE-COOKMAN
 
WASHINGTON, DC --- Freshman Katherine Broussard helped the Howard University Volleyball team quickly return to the win column as the Lady Bison swept the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 3-0 in a cross-division MEAC match on Sunday evening in Burr Gymnasium.
 
Broussard finished a solid week with a game-high 12 kills along with seven digs, a pair of assists and a service ace. Her 51 kills, 33 digs and seven assists in three matches was good enough to garner her Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Week honors for the fourth time this season.
 
Although there were 17 ties and five lead changes, Howard (16-8, 4-2 MEAC) never seemed out of control of the match as the team held B-CU (4-21, 3-2 MEAC) to a .084 hitting percentage.
 
Juniors Stephanie Shultis (26 assists) and Allyson Lods (nine digs) posted game-highs along with Broussard, and at least five players put away at least five kills.
 
Howard will play its last two home games of the season this week against MEAC North Division opponents in conjunction with Homecoming this weekend:
 
- Friday, October 25 @ 7:00 PM vs University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Sunday, October 27 @ 3:00 PM vs Delaware State University
 
SWIMMING & DIVING FALLS SHORT TO EAGLES
 
WASHINGTON, DC --- Friday afternoon saw the Howard Bison swimmers travel across Northwest DC to American University for their renewed matchup against the Eagles.  The Bison were very competitive against the host Eagles, but both teams fell in the team totals.  The Lady Bison lost to American 121-57 while the Bison men came-up short against the Eagles, 111-79.
 
The men's team claimed their first two individual victories of the young season.  Hometown freshman Jared Miller (Washington, DC) won the first collegiate event of his career in the 100-yard freestyle.  His time of 48.34 was good for first place by over one full second.  Junior Trent Popovich (Morro Bay, CA) also took his first victory of the season with a time of 22.64 in the 50-yard freestyle.  Popovich also had an impressive showing in the 100-yard butterfly.  His time of 56.66 was good for second place.
 
Fellow junior Miles Hector (Omaha, NE) also took second place honors in the 1000 freestyle.  His time of 10:42.19 was a new season-best mark.
 
For the Lady Bison, freshman Ayana Cox (Atlantic City, NJ) swam very well in the 50-yard freestyle.  Her time of 26.20 was good for second place.
 
The Bison have a quick turnaround, competing in Lexington, Virginia tomorrow afternoon against the host VMI Keydets and fellow MEAC opponent North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies.  The meet will begin at 1pm.
 
BISON TAKE 12 RACES AGAINST KEYDETS, AGGIES
 
LEXINGTON, VA --- Fresh from their meet the previous day against American University, the Howard Bison swimmers traveled to Lexington, VA to face the North Carolina A&T and Virginia Military Institute on Saturday afternoon.  The Bison swam well against both squads, but fell short on the scoreboard by the closest of margins.
 
The men lost to the Keydets 138-66.  The Lady Bison fell to the VMI women 117-88 and to the Lady Aggies 98-92.
 
The Howard women earned 11 victories in their narrow losses on the afternoon.  Seniors Ashley Douglas (Missouri City, TX) and Janai Ederaine (Corona, CA) contributed to eight of these 11 triumphs.  Douglas earned her first four victories of the season with sweeps against VMI and NC A&T.  In the 50-yard freestyle, Douglas turned-in a season-best time of 25.47.  Later in the 100-yard freestyle, Douglas shined with another season-best mark of 56.19.  Ederaine notched her second and third winners of the young season, defeating the Lady Keydets and Lady Aggies in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:03.81.
 
Freshman Ayana Cox (Atlantic City, NJ) also corralled her second and third victories of her collegiate career by taking the 500-yard freestyle. Her time of 5:47.80 was her best of the season.  Marissa Gentry (Washington, DC) successfully earned her first victory of the season in the 100-yard backstroke, defeating the Lady Aggies with a mark of 1:04.17.
 
To conclude the meet, Douglas, Ederaine, Cox and freshman Sydney Cooper (West Greenwich, RI) dominated the 200 freestyle relay.  With their best time of the season, the Lady Bison defeated both squads with a season-best time of 1:44.02.
 
For the men, freshman Jared Miller (Washington, DC) picked-up where he left-off yesterday with his second collegiate victory.  This time in the 100-yard backstroke, Miller narrowed out-touched the Keydets with a time of 53.62.
 
The men's squad also finished in second place on four other occasions. Miller was a second place finisher in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.85.  Juniors Dexter Brown (Pearland, TX) and Trent Popovich (Morro Bay, CA) also notched second-place finishes.  Brown swam his 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2:07.21 while Popovich finished his 100-yard freestyle in a time of 49.93.
 
The final event featured Popovich, Brown, and Miller combining with junior Benjamin Skelding (Palmdale, CA) for a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay in a time of 1:30.92.
 
The Bison will next compete on a rare Thursday night when they renew their rivalry with Catholic University on November 7th.