FHSU Sports Information Department
FAYETTE, Iowa – Falling down 2-0 by halftime, Fort Hays State assembled a furious second half rally with three goals to knock off 14th-ranked Upper Iowa 3-2 in a key MIAA match on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 8). The Tigers improved to 8-3 overall, 2-1 in the MIAA, while the Peacocks dropped to 7-2-1 overall, 2-2 in the MIAA.
Upper Iowa built a 2-0 lead in the match as Ryan Pinkerton scored in the 20th minute and Joaquin Alonso in the 42nd minute, but the Tigers would fight back quickly in the second half.
FHSU drew a penalty kick in the 47th minute and Maurizio Costa capitalized on the opportunity, burying the shot just under the crossbar to make it 2-1. Later in the 73rd minute, the Tigers had a great counter attack as Damion Cooper found Paul Luna on a run in the middle of the field. Luna got to the ball just before the charging goalkeeper, chipped the ball up over the keeper, and tapped the ball in the net to equalize the match 2-2.
Just over seven minutes later in the 80th minute, David Lucio ripped a shot from the left side just outside of the box and it bent past the keeper near post to vault the Tigers into the lead, 3-2. Upper Iowa was only able to get two shots off the rest of the way.
Michael Yantz moved to 8-3 overall at goalkeeper with five saves. Ludin Gonzales went to 0-1 on the season with the loss, making one save in his first start of the season. The match was physical, mainly in the second half as a total of nine yellow cards were issued in the match (five to Upper Iowa, four to FHSU). The Peacocks doubled up the Tigers in shots, 14-7, but the Tigers were more efficient with their opportunities.
Fort Hays State meets Lindenwood on Saturday at 1 pm in St. Charles in a battle of first-place teams in the MIAA.