FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State Tigers took on the 17th ranked team in the country, Southern Nazarene, on a beautiful fall evening on November 2. The Tigers came out victorious scoring two second half goals while holding the high-octane offense of the Crimson Storm to zero.
Before the match, The Tigers commemorated five seniors for their hard work and dedication to the Tigers program. The seniors included defensive starters Inigo Jimenez and Chris Rios-Cruz, along with Anders Sandsto, Christian Gonzalez, and Tyler Lockhart.
The initial half of the game was characterized by strong defensive performances from both teams, with neither side managing to find the back of the net. Both goalkeepers, Andrej Krivokapic for the Crimson Storm and Ben Dixon for the Tigers, made impressive saves to maintain their respective teams' parity.
As the match entered the second half, the anticipation continued to build. In the 55th minute, the Tigers were awarded a crucial penalty kick from a handball, which was expertly executed by Blake Arndt, granting them a pivotal lead. The Tigers weren't content with just one goal. In the 66th minute, Arndt showcased his scoring prowess once more, this time with an assist from a free kick from Tadhg Walsh, extending the Tiger lead to 2-0.
The Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm battled valiantly but couldn't penetrate the Tigers' formidable defense, anchored by Ben Dixon in goal. With just 10 minutes left in the match, senior Chris Rios-Cruz made a jaw dropping team save after Dixon had to leave his position in goal. The team save helped keep the Crimson Storm scoreless and the match concluded with Fort Hays State triumphing, with a final score of 2-0 over Southern Nazarene.
The victory improved Fort Hays State's season record to 8-6-2, with a conference record of 7-2-2, while Southern Nazarene's record stands at 11-4-2, with a conference record of 9-2-0. The Tigers are currently second within the conference, with Rogers State and Northeastern State trailing closely. The Tigers will end their season in Warrensburg, where they will face off against the Rogers State Hillcats Saturday (Nov. 4).