FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – The 12th-ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team gave previously undefeated Lubbock Christian their first loss of the season on Friday night (Sept. 18) in Hays. The Chaparrals rolled into Hays with a 3-0 record on the season, but FHSU put the first blemish on that mark with a 4-0 shutout win.
The Tigers were led by Anthony Hernandez who had a hat trick on the night with three goals. Mauricio Castorino also chipped in with his fourth goal of the season, giving the Tigers an early lead before three straight goals by Hernandez.
Castorino set the tone for the game when he stole the ball from a defender and chipped it over LCU goalie Tristen Putnam just 9:16 into the first half to put FHSU up 1-0. It remained that way until late in the half when Hernandez got a rebound of a Radley Arnold header, and with the goalie out of position netted the ball at the 42:14 mark.
It wasn’t long after that when Hernandez got his second goal of the day. A ball in the box from Tomiwa Olaniran found his foot again and was buried in the net with just twelve seconds remaining in the first half.
A perfect through ball from David Lucio in the 72nd minute left Hernandez one-on-one with Putnam and he found the net again for his third goal of the night. The score stood 4-0 after the final whistle, which pushed the 12th-ranked Tigers to 4-1 on the season.
FHSU goalkeeper Michael Yantz was stellar in between the pipes, picking up his second shutout of the 2015 season with four saves on the night. The defense was just as strong, thwarting many LCU counter attacks in the first half before they could ever get to Yantz.
The Tigers are home again on Tuesday (Sept. 22) when they take on West Texas A&M at 7 pm.