WASHINGTON (October 4, 2025) – Howard University men's soccer continues Northeast Conference (NEC) action Sunday (Oct. 5) with a road test at Mercyhurst University. Kickoff is set for noon in Erie, Pa., with live coverage available on NEC Front Row.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Fans can stream the match live via NEC Front Row and follow real-time stats.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
HOWARD (1-8-1, 0-2 NEC)
 
Howard returns to the road after falling, 2-0, at home to Le Moyne in Thursday night's (Oct. 2) NEC home opener.
 
The Bison showed resilience after conceding twice in the first half, holding the Dolphins scoreless for the final hour. Goalkeeper Ireal Wyze-Daly (Ontario, Canada) tallied six saves, keeping the match competitive with several second-half stops.
 
Offensively, the Bison showed flashes of promise, generating 10 total shots — four on goal. Zach Simmons (Rockwall, Texas) and Naim Robinson (Detroit) led the attack with three shots apiece as the team looked to spark a second-half comeback.
 
Howard's lone win this season came in a 1-0 victory over VMI (Sept. 20). The team is hungry to break a three-match losing streak and with conference standings starting to take shape, Sunday's contest marks a key juncture to regroup and chase points on the road.
 
MERCYHURST (0-6-3, 0-1-1 NEC)
 
The Lakers come into Sunday's match seeking their first win of the year, following a narrow 1-0 loss at Saint Francis. Mercyhurst held the Red Flash scoreless through the first half but conceded in the 51^st minute and could not find an equalizer despite creating multiple chances late.
 
Goalkeeper Gonzalo Onrubia, who recently posted a nine-save shutout against LIU continued his strong form with several key stops. Mercyhurst's attack showed signs of life through shots by Aiden Williams McCracken, Benjamin Buckley and Santiago Bustamante, but ultimately came up short in converting opportunities.
 
The Lakers' physical style (23 combined fouls last match) and defensive discipline make them a tough team to break down, especially at home. Expect Mercyhurst to apply pressure early and rely on Onrubia to keep them in contention.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Howard dropped its NEC home debut to Le Moyne, 2-0, Thursday. The Bison conceded twice in the opening 31 minutes — including a penalty kick — but regrouped defensively and held firm the rest of the way. Wyze-Daly recorded six saves in goal while Simmons and Robinson led a late offensive push.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Following Sunday's match in Erie, Howard remains on the road with another NEC showdown Sunday (Oct. 12) at Central Connecticut State. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m., in New Britain, Conn., with live streaming again available via NEC Front Row.
 
For more information, visit the official Howard Athletics website at www.hubison.com.