FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
HAYS, Kan. – The 20th-ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team improved to 11-3-1 overall and 4-1 in the MIAA on Friday (Oct. 28) with a 4-1 win over Southwest Baptist. The Bearcats dropped to 0-14-2 overall and 0-6 in the conference.
The game served as Senior Night for the six FHSU seniors, who were celebrated at halftime with a brief ceremony. The six seniors honored on the night were Jose Aguilar, Michael Cole, Damion Cooper, Maurizio Costa, Tyler VanCamp, and Drew Wilson.
Luis Mendez gave the Tigers the lead late in the first half when he recorded his seventh goal of the season at the 33:52 mark. Mendez settled a ball from Arsenio Chamorro, put a move on a defender and rifled the shot from 15 yards out to beat the diving keeper.
Just 22 seconds into the second half, Derick Gonzalez extended the Tiger lead to 2-0 when he scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season. After a loose ball landed at his feet, Gonzalez blasted a shot from 12 yards out that found the back of the net.
Gabriel Gaviolli cut the Tiger lead in half at the 63:57 mark. Tiger keeper Jose Aguilar deflected a ball that bounced high into the air and Gaviolli launched himself towards the ball and headed it over the goal line.
Just over two minutes later at 65:59, Dylan Kintner again made it a two-goal game in favor of the Tigers with his third goal of the season. Tobias Patino set up Kintner perfectly with a through ball about eight yards out, at which point Kintner sent it easily into the net.
Michael Cole wrapped up the scoring for FHSU when he recorded his fifth goal of the season. After gaining possession of a ball just inside SBU territory, he turned on the afterburners and it was off to the races. Cole sprinted beyond the last line of the Bearcat defense for a breakaway and sent the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
Aguilar picked up his first win in goal, making the first start of his career at FHSU. He made two saves on the night, one was a huge save on a breakaway to help keep the Bearcats at bay.
The Tigers hit the home pitch one last time in the regular season on Sunday (Oct. 30) when they battle Northeastern State at 1:30 pm.