FHSU Sports Information Department
PUEBLO, Colo. – Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer bounced back from a 4-2 loss at UC-Colorado Springs on Friday night to win a battle of top-15 ranked teams in NCAA Division II on Sunday. The 14th-ranked Tigers fell down 1-0 early, but rallied to defeat 12th-ranked CSU-Pueblo 2-1 in Pueblo.
The Tigers surrendered a goal in the sixth minute of the match, but about 12 minutes later they found the equalizer with a magnificent bicycle kick goal by Mauricio Castorino. The goal came on a long ball sent to the other end of the field from goalkeeper Michael Yantz. After Yantz’s kick bounced once and a CSU-Pueblo player headed the ball further, Castorino adjusted at the top of the box and stunned the goalkeeper with the dazzling kick that clipped the top of his glove before finding the goal. See the goal here.
The Tigers took the lead in the 63rd minute on Tomiwa Olaniran’s first goal of the season, assisted by Castorino. The Tiger defense and goalkeeper Michael Yantz made the 2-1 lead stand up over the next 27 minutes, pushing the Tigers to 3-1 on the season. CSU-Pueblo moved to the same mark, suffering its first loss of the season.
Yantz is now 3-1 on the season at goalkeeper. CSU-Pueblo had 11 shots in the match, but Yantz only had to save one. The Tigers put seven of their 13 shots in the match on net as CSU-Pueblo keeper Sam Haseltine saved five.
The Tigers finally play their first home match of the 2015 season on Friday (Sept. 18) against Lubbock Christian. The match is set for 7 pm at FHSU Soccer Stadium.