FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – On a windswept Thursday night at FHSU Soccer Stadium, Fort Hays State faced the Newman in a conference match that ended in a 4-1 victory for the Tigers. Fort Hays State pulled within two points of the conference lead held by Rogers State. The Tigers are now 7-3-1 overall, 4-2 in the GAC, while the Jets moved to 6-6 overall and 3-3 in the GAC.
The match began with both teams showcasing strong defensive efforts, keeping each other in check. The Jets had several early chances on offense and managed to capitalize on one in stunning fashion. Miguel Silveira launched a long-range shot from near midfield, taking advantage of a gusting wind to catch Tigers goalkeeper Wouter Van der Borch off guard, putting the Jets on the scoreboard. The Jets outshot the Tigers 5-0 in the first half due to the strong south wind.
However, the Tigers made quick use of the wind at their back in the second half, coming out of the break with renewed energy. Just over two minutes into the half, Bastian Carlman leveled the score with a well-placed strike from just outside the box, leaving the Jets' defense and goalkeeper no chance to react. Marcos German recorded his fifth assist in three games on the play.
Momentum shifted entirely in favor of the Tigers, and they wasted no time building on their opportunities. In the 53rd minute, Elias Ovelar Semeniuk netted two goals 27 seconds apart. The first came from a precise Jerimiah Johnson cross, which Ovelar Semeniuk expertly finished inside the box. Moments later, Carlman had a quick interception in Jets territory that led to Tadgh Walsh threading a pass through the defense, allowing Ovelar Semeniuk to score again.
The Tigers extended their lead in the 57th minute when Marcos German added another goal, this time assisted by Ovelar Semeniuk. German cleverly chipped the ball over the Jets' keeper, who had rushed off his line, sealing the Tigers' dominant second-half performance.
Ovelar Semeniuk led the Tigers with three shots, contributing an impressive five points in just 44 minutes on the pitch. He was one of 11 Tigers to register a shot, highlighting the team's balanced offensive effort. Carlman also made a significant impact with a goal and an assist, despite playing only 31 minutes. On the defensive side, Wouter Van der Borch was rock-solid after the early Jets goal, making four saves to preserve the Tiger lead. FHSU outshot the Jets 14-5 in the second half and won the overall shot battle 14-10.For the Jets, Gabriel Dias Juliani spearheaded the attack with three shots, including two on target, and added an assist. Newman goalkeeper Guilherme Borges recorded two saves in the match.
UP NEXT
The Tigers gear up for another big match on Saturday (Oct. 19) when the 18th-ranked Crimson Storm of Southern Nazarene comes to Hays. (Oct. 19) for a 2 p.m. match. The Tigers are just one point back of the Crimson Storm in the conference standings.