BY ELIZABETH COX
PHOTOS BY FRANCOIS POTGIETER
After defeating Harding University on Friday in the Great American Conference Tournament semifinals, the FHSU Tigers hosted the GAC conference championship against Rogers State on Sunday, kicking off at 1 pm. After regulation ended in a 2-2 tie, the game went into two unscored overtimes, and ended in a penalty shootout, with Rogers state taking the victory.
“Both teams were tired from the previous games, so we lacked a little bit of quality that we should’ve had,” FHSU head coach, Gerry Cleary said. “But it’s a final, if you don’t take your chances, you lose.”
Mortiz Walther scored the first goal of the day, in the ninth minute, after a penalty on Dillon Dean from Rogers State. Sergio Villalba received his first yellow card of the game in the first half. Chris Sowder for RSU scored his first goal of the game in the nineteenth minute, tying the game 1-1 at halftime. Rogers State attempted four shots, where Fort Hays attempted six.
Starting off in the 2nd half, Jaxson Pitt fouled Sergio Villalba, ending in an injury timeout, and removing him from the game temporarily. Noah Robson for Rogers scored with an assist by Jordan Watson, making the game 2-1. FHSU’s Mauricio Etcheverry came back with a goal, tying the game at 2-2, going into the first overtime.
In the first overtime, the teams had 10 minutes to score, where neither teams was successful with two shots by FHSU and one by RSU. The game then went into its second overtime, where it again was scoreless. Sergio Villalba received a red card penalty, and was removed from the game. The referee then gave the rules for penalty shoot out, claiming each team has 5 shots to score, switching between each other.
Fort Hays shot first, missing the first goal in round one. Rogers shot and made it. Round 2, both teams scored successfully, As well as round 3 and 4. The score was 3-4, with FHSU lining up for the 5th round. The shot was unsuccessful, leaving Rogers State as the victor.
“Before the game, I felt really confident because we already beat them twice during the regular season,” Mauricio Etcheverry said. “During the game, we struggled because we didn’t play how we usually do, and in many parts of the game, we played their game instead of our own. It was painful to lose at home with our fans.”
Previously this season, the team beat Rogers 2-0 and 1-0, contributing to their 13-5-2 record. The team will compete in the NCAA DII first round on Thursday, November 21st against UIndy at 12 pm. The game will be played in Painesville, Ohio.
Photos from the match will be uploaded soon.