FHSU Athletics
DENVER, Colo. – Fort Hays State played to a draw with MSU Denver on Sunday. The No. 23 ranked Tigers equalized the match, which ended 2-2, in the 77th minute. FHSU moved to 1-0-1, while MSU Denver moved to 0-0-2.
The Tigers struck first in the 9th minute when Mario Leal Vales netted his first goal of the season, assisted by Mamadou Oumar Ndiaye. MSU Denver responded quickly, leveling the match in the 12th minute on a goal from Colin McKenna, assisted by Brendan O'Toole. The Roadrunners seized the lead in the 27th minute when James Doidge found the back of the net and took their 2-1 lead to halftime.
An early red card to the Tigers just over 34 minutes into the match made it a challenge for a comeback, or even allowing more goals down a man. However, despite MSU Denver holding a strong 11-3 shot advantage in the second half, Elias Ovelar Semeniuk found the net in the 77th minute off a pass from Bastian Carlman. The Tigers allowed only two more shots the remainder of the match to get out of Denver with a draw.
Tiger keeper Payton Roehrich had five saves in the match, while MSU Denver keeper Nick McNeil had four. Carlman led the Tigers with three shots in the match.
FHSU plays its first home match of the season on Thursday night when nationally ranked CSU Pueblo comes to Hays for a 6 p.m. match at FHSU Soccer Stadium.