No. 16 Tigers Gear Up For Big Conference Weekend in Hays

FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

The 16th-ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team hits the home pitch for the first time in five matches this weekend as they take on two MIAA foes. The first match is Friday (Oct. 7) as the Peacocks of Upper Iowa migrate to Hays for a 5:30 pm start. On Sunday (Oct. 9) the 22nd-ranked Lions of Lindenwood will face off with the Tigers in a 2 pm start.

FHSU enters the weekend having won its four matches and has a record of 6-2-1 (2-0 MIAA). As a team, FHSU sits second in the MIAA with 26 goals and first in goals allowed with 11. Another item to note is FHSU’s ability to earn scoring chances, as they also lead the conference in corner kicks earned with 63.

The offensive production for FHSU has been a collaborative effort this season. Six Tigers have scored two or more goals. Derick Gonzalez leads the way with five. Maurizio Costa leads the MIAA in the assist column with six, already a career high for the senior. Along with Costa, Arsenio Chamorro has helped set up teammates four times this season, tied for second in the MIAA.

Upper Iowa comes to Hays with an overall record of 3-6 and MIAA record of 1-2. The duo of Ryan Pinkerton and Blair Lyons pose the biggest threat for opponents. The two have combined for six goals, three each, which is half of the goals scored by UIU all season. Lyons, who was the Co-MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2015, is tied for second in the conference in assists (4) with Chamorro.

Lindenwood enters the weekend red-hot winning its last seven matches. The Lions are 8-2-2 overall and 3-0 in the MIAA. This match will be big in both the MIAA standings and NCAA Region Rankings.

Xhovani Dokaj, arguably one of the best players in the country, will pose as one of the toughest challenges for the Tiger defense this year. He is tied for fifth in the nation with 11 goals, and sixth alone with 25 points. Thomas Hutcheson is another threat, second in the MIAA in goals with eight.

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