FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer put together an all-around dominant performance over Lindenwood on Thursday (Sept. 25), defeating the Lions 8-0 at FHSU Soccer Stadium.
In a physical contest where seven yellow cards and two red cards were handed out between the two squads, the Tigers (3-3-1, 1-2-0 MIAA) played one man up for the final 14 minutes of the first half and much of the second before playing the final 21 minutes of action with a two-person advantage due to red card ejections.
David Lucio got things started for the Tigers in the ninth minute, assisted by Michael Cole. Cole’s pass from the left end line found Lucio in the middle of the box for a one-touch, right-footed goal to the low left net.
On a corner kick in the 32nd, Lindenwood was whistled for a penalty in the box, prompting a penalty kick opportunity forDiego Cabral. Cabral hit a shot to the left side of the net past a diving Lions’ goalkeeper Andrew Hamerlinck, putting FHSU ahead 2-0.
Just before the break, freshman Brian Ness added his name to the scoring column at 44:20. Ness stole the ball from a Lindenwood defender and fired a shot from the upper right corner of the box, rolling it past Hamerlinck to send FHSU to the break, up 3-0.
Out of the break, Lindenwood replaced Hamerlinck with goalkeeper Marco Contino, but the Tigers continued their offensive onslaught with five additional goals in the final 45 minutes.
Cole’s first goal of the evening was recorded at 58:34. After a foul call on Lindenwood, Cabral hurried a pass along the left side of the box to Cole, who launched the Tigers’ fourth goal of the night into the lower right net.
Less than three minutes later, Cole again found himself a scoring opportunity. Austin Clifton nearly was forced out of bounds near the left end line, but a late cross just cleared the LWU goalkeeper towards Cole, who headed it in from three feet out.
Soon after (63:35), Joe Albright entered the scoring column with a duo assist from Drew Wilson and Anthony Hernandez. On a throw in from Wilson, Hernandez dribbled untouched deep into the box before passing it to Albright for a one-touch goal from five yards out.
After the second red card of the night was issued to Lindenwood at 68:56, Fort Hays State added two further scores in the 75th and 76th minutes.
Hernandez picked up his second assist of the evening during the Tigers seventh goal, firing a pass to Maurizio Costa on the left side of the box. Costa’s speed allowed him to beat his man and find the low right corner of the net on a shot across the box.
FHSU’s final goal of the evening came just 66 seconds later, when Kyle Markovits’ free kick from 20 yards out deflected off a Lindenwood defender, past a diving Contino.
Goals by Lucio, Ness and Costa were career firsts, while five points (two goals, one assist) from Cole is a career-high for the junior. Cole and Costa were tied for the team lead with four shots apiece, while Cabral, Albright, Markovits and Daniel Davila each had two shots.
Though the offensive fireworks carried the Tigers’ momentum, the Fort Hays State defense did not go unnoticed. FHSU limited the Lions to 11 shots in the game (and just four in the second half), shutting down a perennially strong offensive team, with Drew Wilson and Luan Silva playing all 90 minutes.
FHSU’s Kent Freund posted his second shutout of the season, picking up three saves in 90 minutes of play.
The eight goals scored set a new school record for goals in one game, breaking the previous mark of seven, set against Southwest Baptist in 2012.
Fort Hays State returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 27 for a matchup with SBU. Game time is 1 p.m., from FHSU Soccer Stadium.
