By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The 21st-ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team upset eighth-ranked Northeastern State 4-1 on Sunday (Sept. 23). The Tigers improved to 5-2-1 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA, while the RiverHawks dip to 6-1 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.
In a rematch of the 2017 Central Region Championship where Northeastern State defeated Fort Hays State 2-1 in Philippi, W.V., the Tigers got the best of the RiverHawks this time around as they used four second half goals and Tiger goalkeeper Fernando Pina picked up ten saves, holding the RiverHawk offense to one goal in the match.
The first half was a defensive battle between the conference rivals as neither team was able to capitalize. The Tigers outshot the RiverHawks 11-3 heading into intermission.
Luis Torres started the offense for the Tigers with his third goal of the season in the 54th minute, with an assist to Raul Fierro for setting him up and giving the Tigers the 1-0 lead. Santiago Agudelo connected on his team-leading seventh goal in the 68th minute of the contest to increase the Tiger lead to 2-0 over the RiverHawks.
In the 71st minute, midfielder Rogelio Lopez picked up a pass from Moises Peralta and found the back of the net to stretch the lead to 3-0. RiverHawk striker Joe Garcia was able to get Northeastern State on the board in the 75th minute after scoring on a rebound from a penalty kick save from Pina. The Tigers weren’t done just yet, as Lopez picked up his second goal of the contest in the 79th minute, with the help on a Nathan De La Hoya assist.
Fernando Pina picked up the win in goal for the Tigers, moving to 2-0 overall on the season. Pina’s ten saves move him into second in program history for saves in a single match. Santiago Agudelo led the offense with three shots in the match.
The Tigers are back in action next weekend when they continue their road trip in Shawnee, Okla. to battle the Oklahoma Baptist Bison Thursday (Sept. 27). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.