BROWNWOOD, Texas – Kate Recendez's hat trick fuels Howard Payne's 4-1 victory over LETU in an American Southwest Conference fixture at Citizens National Bank Field Saturday.
 
The Yellowjackets drop to 3-11-2 on the campaign, including 1-7-1 against league opponents. HPU improved to 10-5-1, 5-3-1.
 
Playing its second match in 24 hours, LETU hung with the hosts through the first hour of play, knotted at 1-1 with a half hour remaining in regulation.
 
Recendez netted her first tally of the day in the fifth minute when her 20-yards shot slid between the near post and the goalkeeper.
 
Heather Fellows registered the equalizer, firing a laser and finding the top-left corner of the netting, her first goal of the season, with just over 10 minutes to go in the opening half.
 
As time ticked off the game clock, Howard Payne increased its offensive attack, especially Recendez. She registered four of her five shots in the final 30 minutes, including two that found the back of the twine. She blistered a shot from 30-yards away that found the top shelf inside the near post for the eventual game winner at the 67:23 mark.
 
Five minutes later, Recendez netted the final marker in her three-goal performance, staying upstairs but attacking the left corner this time.
 
Lexi De La Cruz cashed in on a helper from Recendez with 87 seconds left on the clock.
 
Up Next:
The Yellowjackets conclude their 2021 season Friday, Oct. 29 against East Texas Baptist. Kickoff is 5 p.m. at the Joyce Family Athletic Village. Prior to the contest, the seniors on the women's soccer team will be recognized for their contributions to LeTourneau, the program and the community.
 
Inside the Numbers:
- HPU outshot LETU 22-4, including 12-4 on target.
- Kiersten Reeser collected eight saves, boosting her season total to 117 and 206 in her career.
- Reeser ranks eighth on the Yellowjackets' single-season and seventh on the career saves list.
- Reeser is just the seventh to reach the 200 stops plateau in the programs' 24 seasons.
- Kendra Cecil, Carrie Gerdes, De La Cruz and Recendez each recorded an assists for HPU.
 
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