By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer defeated Newman 3-1 on Saturday (Sep. 17). The Tigers scored once in the first half and twice in the second to pick up their first conference win. FHSU improved to 3-2-3 overall (1-0-1 GAC/MIAA) and Newman moved to 0-6-1 (0-1 GAC/MIAA).
The first half consisted of strong defense by both squads as the only goal came with about a minute before halftime. In the 44th minute a cross from Jackson Elgas connected with the head of Segun Idowu, who entered the match shortly before, for his first goal of the season. The Tigers led the shot battle 8-3 entering the break.
The second half was a much different story as three goals were scored within a three minute span. Fort Hays State netted the first one in the 59th minute as a corner kick from Inigo Jimenez was headed in by junior defender Haruya Iwasaki for his first career goal. Newman answered quickly in the 61st minute as Feliz Tellez Ramirez took the ball down the field and set up Carlos Bellosta Manchon to put the Jets on the board. The Tigers stretched their lead back to two almost immediately as Blake Arndt found Anders Sandsto who poked the ball through the posts to take a 3-1 lead. The Tiger defense held off the Jets the remainder of the half to secure the win.
FHSU finished with 22 shots, a season-high, while the Jets ended with 10. Kieran Brown managed three saves in goal for the Tigers and Juan Carlos Cordova finished with six for the Jets. Brown played the first 86 minutes of the match before Ben Dixon entered in relief to end the game.
The Tigers will be at home next week as they host Ouachita Baptist on Thursday (Sep. 22) and Harding on Saturday (Sep. 24).