ALLIANCE, Ohio - September 11, 2025 - A defensive battle ended in a 1-0 loss to Mount Union on Thursday evening at Kehres Stadium, as the Hiram men's soccer team gave one of the best teams in the region all it could handle in a match that featured just seven shots on target between the two teams.

The Purple Raiders scored their lone goal on a penalty kick in the 44th minute, as Reese Utter ripped one through the back of the net to give the home team the lead entering the intermission. Hiram goalkeeper Will McCale then gave Hiram a chance with four saves in the second half alone, but Mount Union held its ground defensively to secure the victory.

It was a non-conference matchup that set the stage for an exciting rest of the 2025 season for the Terriers, who have proven that they can compete against premier competition in each of the last two seasons. With the win, Mount Union improved to 4-0-1 this season, which comes on the heels of a 15-5-1 record in the 2024 campaign.

On offense, Reginal Johnson led Hiram with three shots, while Alex Lineen and Garrett Riley each tallied shots on goal. 

Hiram will look to build on the strong result when it returns to the field on Saturday for another OAC matchup; the Terriers will take on Muskingum, with kickoff set for 3 p.m.