Fort Hays State scored two early goals and then held off Upper Iowa late to claim a 2-1 victory at FHSU Soccer Stadium in conference play on Friday evening (Oct. 18). The 18th-ranked Tigers moved to 9-2-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the MIAA, while the Peacocks drop out of the second place tie with FHSU, now at 7-5-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the MIAA.

The FHSU offense was clicking early, netting a couple of early opportunities to take a 2-0 lead by the 17th minute. Michael Cole got the Tigers on the board nearly six minutes into the match beating the keeper to the right after a pair of nice passes from Ricardo Yeverino and Diego Cabral, who were awarded assists. Just over 10 minutes later, Yeverino scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season using a nice spin move in the box after a pass from Daniel Peralta.

The Tigers had total control of the match at halftime, but that control started to slip in the second half when Upper Iowa mustered better offensive chances. The Peacocks scored a goal in the 59th minute on a ball flicked up into the air by Simone Lupi that just snuck over the head of keeper Kent Freund.

The Tigers held off the late charges by the Peacocks to remain in second place alone in the MIAA standings. Freund moved to 3-1-0 in goal this season with the win.

Fort Hays State hosts Northeastern State next week at FHSU Soccer Stadium on Thursday in a showdown of nationally ranked programs. The teams tied in their first conference match of the year, 2-2 in Tahlequah.

— FHSU Sports Information —