HAYS, Kan. – It took almost 110 minutes to determine the winner in a non-conference matchup between 11th-ranked Fort Hays State and West Texas A&M on Tuesday night (Sept. 22). The Tigers picked up their fifth win of the season in thrilling fashion, a 3-2 win in double overtime as Luan Silva netted his first goal of the season with just six seconds remaining.
The Buffs started the scoring early, just 5:12 into the first half as Ivan Ulloa broke away from the Tiger defense and put the first shot of the night past FHSU keeper Michael Yantz.
Later in the first half, FHSU’s Mauricio Castorino put a shifty move on a defender on a pass from teammate Luis Torres and chipped it past the diving WTAMU goalkeeper Patrick Satorie for his fifth goal of the season, leveling the score in the 26th minute.
A hand ball in the Tigers’ box gave WTAMU a penalty kick 30 seconds into the second half. After the first penalty shot was called back due to a box infraction by the Tigers, WTAMU Conrad Goulbourne netted his second goal of the season to push the WTAMU lead to 2-1.
A hard foul in the box in the 86th minute gave the Tigers an opportunity to even up the score with a penalty kick of their own. Maurizio Costa made the most of the opportunity for the Tigers when he scored his fifth goal of the year and brought the score even once again, 2-2, keeping the Tigers alive.
At the end of regulation the score remained 2-2 and the fans at FHSU Soccer Stadium were treated to free soccer. Both teams played their hearts out in overtime and with nine seconds remaining a WTAMU foul 25 yards out gave the Tigers one last chance as time was stopped by the official. That set up the game-winning opportunity. Castorino placed a beautiful ball into the WTAMU box and on a short hop Silva netted it with his right foot from 10 yards out. The teams were only six seconds away from playing to a 2-2 draw, but the Tigers found magic on their home turf to move to 5-1 overall on the season. WTAMU dropped to 3-4 overall.
Yantz got his fifth win of the season in between the pipes with four saves.
Fort Hays State’s next match will be on Friday (Sept. 25) as they head to Wichita, Kan. to take on Newman University.