By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The Fort Hays State University men’s soccer team came out of the gates hot, scoring four goals in a season-opening victory over the Newman Jets. The Tigers also did their part defensively allowing just four shots the entire match. Kieran Brown was not tested much, but walked away with a shutout stopping all three shots on goal for the Jets.
The Tigers pressed Newman’s goalkeeper Jean Claude Consol early in this match and never let their foot off the gas. Fort Hays netted their first goal of the match at the 8:58 mark in the first half. Kevin Black fed a ball to the right side for Taisei Arima. Arima crossed the ball into the box for a wide-open header netted by Blake Arndt. The Tigers would then score again late in the half to take a two-goal lead in to the locker room. With the strong wind at his back, senior Antonio De La Torre torched a free kick from near mid-field and placed it in the back of the net for his first of the season.
The intermission did nothing to slow down the Tigers as they matched their first half goal scoring with two more goals in the second 45 minutes. The scoring was opened up once again by Blake Arndt, scoring his second of the match at the 79:49 mark. Viktor Robertsson was credited with the assist after crossing a ball into the box, finding Arndt open once again. The redshirt sophomore headed the ball into the net, pushing the Tiger lead to three goals. Taisei Arima added the final touches to the match after being awarded a penalty kick in the 88th minute. Arima pulled the ball to the left side of the net catching Newman’s Consol by surprise. The freshman from Japan ended his day with a goal and an assist.
The Tigers heavily outshot the Jets, placing 11 of 26 shots on goal compared to just 3 of 4 shots on goal for Newman.
Fort Hays State will be back in action next Saturday (Mar. 6) for a neutral site game against Ouachita Baptist in Claremore, Okla. Kick-off is slated for 3:30 p.m.