By CAYDEN SANDERS
Photos by REBEKAH REED
Tiger Media Network
The Fort Hays State University men’s soccer team opened its season at home against two non-conference opponents, Metro State and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. The Tigers won the opening night match against the Roadrunners 3-1 before dropping game two of the season Sunday against the Mountain Lions, 3-2.
“We played two really good games. We had a good game against Metro (State), and we just had a few mistakes against Colorado Springs that cost us the game,” head coach Gerry Cleary said
The Tigers are coming off a disappointing season compared to the program’s expectations of not making it to the national tournament for the first time since the inaugural year of the program in 2011. The Tigers still have the national tournament as a goal this season, and that started against RMAC opponents.
On Thursday against Metro State, senior transfer Alex Plimmer scored in the 22nd and 34th minutes. At halftime, the Tigers led 2-0. Quickly after the break, senior Blake Arndt scored in the 53rd minute.
“Alex (Plimmer) is a great soccer player; he added a lot of talent and experience to this team. It was no surprise to us that he came out and played really well today,” Arndt said
The Roadrunners did not go away silently as Aaron Biggerstaff scored in the 55th minute of the match.
“We had a good win. We came out and played our game, and that’s all you can ask for going into your first game of the season,” Arndt said.
On Sunday, the Tigers took on the Mountain Lions, who also won their season opener 2-0 against Newman in Wichita. Colorado Springs finished the 2022 season 20th in the nation.
Alex Andersson scored early and often in the 11th and 17th minutes for the Mountain Lions. But, before halftime, freshman Collin Hershberger scored his first goal as a Tiger in the 37th minute.
After halftime, the Tigers scored again, this time by Arndt in the 47th minute, tying the game just after the break.
The Mountain Lions got the go-ahead score by Andersson in the 79th minute.
“It’s a tough way to lose today. In a game like today, where you come back and tie the game up, and you think the momentum is in their favor, then one mistake can change that,” Arndt said. “We just need to clean some things up before our trip to Kansas City, and we could be a good team.”
FHSU (1-1) will play Maryville at 2 p.m. Thursday at Scheels Sports Complex in Overland Park before battling Rockhurst at 3 p.m. Sunday in Kansas City, Mo.
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