FHSU Athletics
CLAREMORE, Okla. – In a GAC battle between top-15 nationally ranked teams, No. 13 Fort Hays State dominated No. 8 Rogers State at Soldier Field. The Tigers produced their sixth shutout of the season, winning by a convincing 4-0 margin thanks to three second-half goals. FHSU remained unbeaten, now 6-0-2 overall and 2-0-0 in the GAC, while RSU took its first loss of the season and now sits at 6-1-2 overall and 2-1-0 in the GAC.
Fort Hays State took the lead in the 34th minute with Elias Ovelar Semeniuk scoring on a header in the box, assisted by Juan Linares off a corner kick. Despite Rogers State holding a 6-5 shot advantage in the opening half, the Tigers maintained their defensive stand with goalkeeper Payton Roehrich making a pair of saves.
The Tigers capitalized on second-half opportunities to extend their lead. Semeniuk opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with his second goal of the match. He chased down a ball on the left side of the box that got the keeper out of position, then fired home a shot into an unguarded net. Mario Leal Vales provided the third tally in the 78th minute, settling a loose ball amongst a crowd right in front of the net. Collin Hershberger capped off the scoring in the 85th minute on a misplay by the RSU keeper that gave him a quick 1-on-1 opportunity. FHSU outshot RSU 14-4 in the second half and 19-10 for the match.
Roehrich finished the night with three saves and collected his fifth individual shutout of the season. The Tigers had nine corner kick opportunities throughout the evening compared to three for the Hillcats. Ovelar Semeniuk had his second multi-goal match of the season and leads the GAC with seven overall.
Up next
Fort Hays State heads to Bethany, Oklahoma on Saturday to take on Southern Nazarene (4-2-2, 2-0-1 GAC). The Crimson Storm received votes in the latest national poll. The match is a 3 p.m. kickoff at Wes Harmon Field.