By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
SEARCY, Ark. – The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team pushed its win streak to three on Saturday (Oct. 12) after defeating the Harding. The Tiger offense put on a show throughout the match for an impressive 5-1 victory. The win moved FHSU to 6-3-1 overall, 2-2 in GAC play, while Harding fell to 0-8-3 overall, 0-5 in conference matches.
The Tigers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, with Fabian Gylden Svensson netting his second goal of the season just under 10 minutes into the match. His goal came from a perfectly executed cross from Marcos German. FHSU quickly doubled their lead when Tadgh Walsh set up Lucas Garay for his first collegiate goal. Walsh is now tied for the national lead with nine assists.
Harding found an opportunity to narrow the lead after a foul by Wouter Van der Borch in the box, allowing Lesego Maloma to convert a penalty kick and cut the deficit to 2-1. Walsh restored the Tigers’ two-goal cushion before halftime by finishing a precise cross from German, who now has four assists in the past two matches. The Tigers held a 3-1 lead going into halftime, outshooting the Bisons 17-9. Van der Borch made four crucial saves in the first half, the most by any FHSU goalkeeper in a single half this season.
FHSU continued to press forward in the second half, adding two more goals. Gylden Svensson delivered a well-timed pass to Collin Hershberger, who scored his first goal of the season. Siem Duijs rounded out the scoring after Mamadou Oumar Ndiaye found him in the box, sealing the 5-1 win. The Tiger defense held Harding to just four second-half shots, allowing 13 total in the match.
With the win, FHSU completed an Arkansas trip sweep and returns to Hays for a four-match homestand over the next two weeks. The Tigers will host Newman on Thursday (Oct. 17) at 7 p.m. before taking on Southern Nazarene for the second time this season on Saturday (Oct. 19) at 2 p.m.