SEATTLE – The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team took a heartbreaking loss Thursday evening (Sept. 14), falling to Seattle Pacific in the final minute of the second overtime period, 2-1. The Tigers dip to 0-4-1 on the season with the loss, while the Falcons improve to 4-1 overall.
The Tiger offense was aggressive in the first half for the second game in a row, with four different Tigers slipping through the defense for an opportunity to score. Four of the five shots FHSU attempted in the opening half were off the mark, but one was able to find the back of the net. The Tigers were on the board first after a corner kick from Luis Mendez found Derick Gonzalez just outside the six-yard box. Gonzalez delivered a perfect header just to the inside the left post to give the Tigers the early advantage in the 17th minute of the match. It was the senior’s team-leading second goal of the season.
The Falcons evened the match less than two minutes later when Mori Tsuchiya found the top shelf on a 12-yarder in the 19th minute. The equalizer was Tsuchiya’s third goal of the season to lead SPU.
Seattle Pacific controlled possession for the duration of the match after the break, limiting the Tigers to one shot in the second half and no shots in overtime. Meanwhile, the Falcons attempted two shots in the second half, four more in the first overtime and five in the second extra period. The Tigers were forced to play the final 22 minutes of regulation and overtime with 10 men after Abdoulaye Cisse received his second yellow card and was sent off in the 68th minute.
The Falcons appeared poised to steal the match in the first overtime, rifling off four shots over the final three minutes. The first attempt was blocked before Tiger goalie Alex Rodela made a diving save. Another SPU shot bounced off the post just seconds later before being cleared away by the Tiger defense. The Falcons had one final push in the period, but Rodela made another save with 16 seconds remaining on the clock.
The Tiger defense continued to feel the pressure in the second overtime period, keeping the Falcons at bay until they finally broke through with less than 30 seconds remaining in the match. After FHSU blocked a pair of shots and two more attempts sailed wide, Ryan Higgins picked up the golden goal off the left post from just in front of the net.
Rodela (0-1) made his first start of the season in goal, making two timely saves in the first overtime period to keep the score all square. They were the only two saves for either team in the match, with every other shot either finding the net or being off target. Gonzalez attempted two shots with Brian Ness, Arsenio Chamorro, Caden Frank and Paul Luna all adding one shot.
The Tigers are back in action Saturday (Sept. 16) as they travel to Bellingham, Wash., for a 9 p.m. (CT) kickoff with the Western Washington Vikings.