FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
LAREDO, Texas – Fort Hays State used about every tick of the clock possible to notch its first win of the season in a 2-1 overtime win at Texas A&M-International on Thursday night (Sept. 8). Derick Gonzalez provided the golden goal with only two possible seconds remaining to avoid a tie in the double overtime thriller.
The 20th-ranked Tigers took the upper hand with a goal by Tobias Patino in the 55th minute. Maurizio Costa earned an assist by blasting a shot off the goalkeeper that rebounded to Patino for the scoring strike.
Misfortune struck FHSU in the 65th minute as the Dustdevils tied the match when FHSU mishandled a ball that went into their own goal.
With the score all square at the end of 90 minutes, the Tigers went to overtime for the second time in their first three games. It looked as though the Tigers were going to have to settle for their second draw of the season, but Mauricio Castorino found Gonzalez about 20 yards out just before the final horn sounded to lift the Tigers to victory. Gonzalez snuck his shot just inside the left post for the winning score.
Alex Rodela picked up the win in goal for the Tigers, now 1-0 on the season, playing all 109:58 of the match. He had four saves on the night. He had a big save with 20 seconds remaining, which triggered the final push for the Tigers just before the clock expired.
The Tigers have a long drive back and Hays and look to rest up for their home opener on Monday night (Sept. 12) against UC-Colorado Springs at 5 pm.