BETHANY, W.Va. - The Bethany College men's soccer team hosted a jersey retirement ceremony for late Bethany Great Paul "Ace" Hayward '83 as they fell to Westminster (Pa.) College by a final score of 3-0 in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game on Don Ault Field at Bison Stadium.
As part of the 2026 Bethany College Homecoming festivities, the Bison men's soccer team honored Paul "Ace" Hayward '83 by retiring his jersey number 99 before the team's match against Westminster.
Hayward, a 1983 graduate of Bethany, helped lead the Bison to four straight Presidents' Athletic Conference Championships from 1979 to 1982 and was also a member of the 1982 NCAA Division III National Finalist squad. He was a two-time All-PAC defender who was inducted into the Bethany College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 and was named to the PAC's 60th Anniversary Men's Soccer team in 2015. After Bethany, Hayward spent nine seasons coaching at the collegiate level while also coaching and leading youth soccer camps for over 30 years.
On February 26, 2015, Hayward tragically passed away from cancer at the age of 55. However, his legacy lives on through the soccer apparel brand, 11ManGang, and through the SmileDeep Soccer Tournament in his hometown of Anna Maria, Florida, which benefits the soccer programs of the Anna Maria Island Community Center.
Bethany (0-5, 0-2 PAC) Leaders
- Freshman defender Hector Romo (Strasburg, Va.) tied a game-high four shots with two shots on goal
- Junior forward Derieck Hernandez (New Orleans, La./Kenner Discovery) added three shots for the Bison
- Sophomore goalkeeper Lucas Bassetti (New Kent, Va.) made two saves in the first half while freshman goalkeeper Carlos Monque (Miami, Fla./Archbishop Coleman Carroll) posted five saves
Westminster (3-2-2, 1-0-1 PAC) Leaders
- Freshman goalkeeper Vasilis Kouvelas had three saves and added one assist for the Titans
- Freshman forward Zayden Herb scored once and led the team with four shots and two shots on goal
The Bison are back in action Wednesday, September 23 as they host a Presidents' Athletic Conference game against Waynesburg (Pa.) University at 4 p.m. on Don Ault Field at Bison Stadium.
