By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
CLAREMORE, Okla. – Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer played to a 2-2 draw with Rogers State in Claremore, Okla. on Thursday (Sep. 15) in the GAC/MIAA opener for both teams. All four goals were scored within an 18-minute span in the second half. Both teams move to 2-2-3 overall on the year and 0-0-1 in the GAC.
The Hillcat offense was very active in the first half taking 11 shots and placing six on target. FHSU keeper Kieran Brown was solid between the posts as he saved all six shots on goal. Rogers State struck first early in the second half as a chain of passes found Erik Hjertsson who shot the ball into the net in the 50th minute. The Hillcats padded their lead shortly after as a quick pass in the box put Ruben Carrasco in position to increase the lead to 2-0 in the 53rd minute.
The Tigers found their first goal of the night when a free kick by Inigo Jimenez landed in the box and bounced around between the teams until Callum Frogson chipped a shot into the upper right corner of the goal in the 59th minute. It was his team-leading third goal of the season. Almost 10 minutes later, Blake Arndt netted the equalizer for the Tigers when he faked out the keeper on a penalty kick and drove the ball into the net for his second goal of the season. Rogers State gave the Tigers the penalty opportunity when they took down Arndt in the box on a corner kick situation.
The Tigers won the shot battle, 21-20, putting up 16 shots in the second half. Brown didn’t have to make a save in the second half and finished with six, while Declan Viljoen made eight saves for the Hillcats. The Tigers will be back at home on Saturday (Sep. 17) when they take on Newman with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.