By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
FAYETTE, Iowa – The No. 10 ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team defeated Upper Iowa on Friday (Oct. 26), 3-1. The Tigers improved to 13-2-1 overall and 7-0 in MIAA play, while the Peacocks dipped to 4-7-2 on the season and 2-4 in conference play.
The Tigers trailed for the just the fourth time at any point throughout the 2018 season as the Peacocks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute of the match after Italo Martins Soares found a hole in behind the Tiger defense and connected on his team-leading fifth score of the year.
Santiago Agudelo continued his stellar junior campaign with the equalizer in the 31st minute, plating his 23rd goal of the season with some help from the foot of Moises Peralta. Peralta picked up his third assist of the season in the process. The rest of the first period was stagnant as neither team could capitalize on their scoring opportunities.
In the 52nd minute, Abdoulaye Cisse fed the ball ahead to Alonso Rodriguez, who then knocked in his third goal of the season on a header near the right post that snuck past the Peacock goalkeeper.
The Tigers cashed in on an insurance goal in the late ticks of the contest as Agudelo recorded his 24th score and seventh multi-goal contest of the year from about ten yards out, blowing the ball past the Upper Iowa keeper.
Fernando Pina earned the victory in goal for Fort Hays State, improving his overall record to 6-0-1. Pina allowed his sixth goal of the season, his first goal allowed since a 2-1 victory over Lindenwood (Oct. 7). Santiago Agudelo led the way with eight shots in the match. Agudelo and Rodriguez each had four shots on frame.
The Tigers are back in action Sunday (Oct. 28) as they take on Lindenwood in the final regular season conference match for FHSU. The Tigers and Lions are slated to battle each other starting at 1:30 p.m. from St. Charles, Mo.