The Fort Hays State University men’s soccer team (7-3-1, 4-2-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association) had a big MIAA win over homecoming weekend against the Upper Iowa University Peacocks (6-4-1, 3-3-0 MIAA) who came into the game with the same record as the Tigers and were the last MIAA team the Tigers had not faced.
For the fans that braved the cold and windy weather, the game did not disappoint.
FHSU scored 15 minutes into play.
After the Peacocks cleared the ball from around net, Luan Silva, Highlands Ranch, CO., freshman, recovered it about 25 yards out. Silva quickly passed the ball towards the back side of the box. Tanner Brock, Windfield senior, came racing towards the net, heading the ball in from around 5 yards out.
The lead lasted for another 15 minutes until UIU scored their first goal. The Peacocks, kicking a corner kick, won their ball in front of the net and managed to get a scoring shot to tie the game, 1-1.
Only 53 seconds later, the Peacocks managed to take the lead.
After a cross kick and a shot that deflected off the cross bar, the ball landed in front of the net. Before the Tiger goalkeeper Kent Freund, Garland, Texas, senior, could find the ball after the quick action, it was too late. The ball bounced off a Peacock leg and into the net.
The Tigers were down, 1-2.
FHSU had a couple close shots including an attempt that bounced off the side post and ran along the goal line, but they could not catch a break.
Not until the 81st minute did the Tigers see their second goal.
Coming from a corner kick, Brock passed the ball to Diego Cabral, Asuncion, Paraguay, senior. Cabral sailed a cross kick into the awaiting mass of players. Defender Drew Wilson, Overland Park sophomore, made contact with the ball and headed it into the net by the back post. His goal saved the game by tying it, 2-2.
Going into overtime, the Tigers controlled the momentum of the game. Beating a couple defenders, Mauricio Castorino, Asuncion, Paraguay, freshman, drove the ball down the field. Castorino slowed his pressure and crossed the ball to the middle of the box, which connected it with Brock. Brock punched in the golden goal and passed the diving goalkeeper for an FHSU win, 3-2.
“That was a big win for us,” said Brock. “We really needed it to get ahead of them points wise in the MIAA. It was huge for us.”
Beating Upper Iowa left the Tigers as the lone second place team in the MIAA. This big win sets up the Tigers for their second game during FHSU’s homecoming weekend against the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm. Southern Nazarene gave the Tigers their second MIAA loss of the season back in September.