FAYETTE, Iowa – The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team continued their hot start to conference play with a 4-1 victory over Upper Iowa on Friday (Oct. 6). The win moved the Tigers record to 5-4-2 overall, above .500 overall for the first time this season, and improved their MIAA record to 3-0. The Peacocks dip to 4-5 on the season and 0-4 in conference play.
The match was moved up due to weather it was a dreary game. The Tigers didn’t let the conditions stop them as Luis Mendez found the back of the net for his first goal of the season on a give-and-go from Abdoulaye Cisse in the 18th minute. The assist gave Cisse four for the year.
After a yellow card on the Peacock’s Cameron Bosacki, Derick Gonzalez was awarded a penalty kick for the second time this year. He hit the shot in the back left corner to give him his team-leading sixth goal of the season. Gonzalez passed Mauricio Castorino and Tanner Brock to hold the team record in consecutive matches with a point. He is currently at eight straight games.
The Tigers weren’t going to let up as Caden Frank took a corner kick from Benji Granillo and made a header shot from five yards out to give the Tigers a commanding 3-0 lead in the 34th minute, crediting the assist to Granillo. It was Frank’s second goal in as many games. FHSU headed to halftime with a 3-1 lead after a penalty kick from Emilio Meraz-Rodriguez, his second goal of the season.
The second half consisted of many scoring opportunities for both teams as the ball was slipping off of the players’ feet many times in the rain. Both teams were even in shots in the second half until Cisse found the back of the net on a crosser from Gonzalez, 15 yards out. Cisse scored his fifth goal of the season and tied Mauricio Castorino for the program record for consecutive matches with a goal (five).
The Tigers outshot the Peacocks 15 to 11 and doubled their shots on goal 10-5. Michael Yantz earned the win for the Tigers and improved his record to 4-3-2 overall on the season.
The Tigers are back in action Sunday as they travel to St. Charles, Mo., to face the Lindenwood Lions. Kickoff is set for noon.