HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men's soccer team earned its second consecutive shutout and third in four matches with a 5-0 drubbing of Southern Nazarene on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 30). The Tigers improved to 4-4-2 on the season, while the Crimson Storm fell to 0-9-1 overall.
 
The Tigers began the match with a stiff breeze behind their backs, but were unable to tag the back of the net on any of their eight first half shots. The Tiger defense held the Crimson Storm in check throughout the first period as Southern Nazarene was not able to fire a shot off into the sharp southern wind. The Tigers and Crimson Storm ended the first half with nothing to put into the goal column on the scoreboard as neither team was able to find the back of the net.
 
The Tigers came out firing in the second half, continuing their aggressive play as Brian Ness broke the scoreless tie with his first goal of the season in the 48th minute thanks to a misplay from the Crimson Storm's goalie Dakota Ellicott. The Tigers were far from finishing their offensive onslaught as Sergio Villalba netted his second goal of the season on a pass from Tobias Patino in the 52nd minute doubling the Tigers' lead to 2-0.
 
The Tigers rifled off seven more shots in the next 15 minutes before Caden Frank found the back of the net in the 72nd minute for his first goal on the year, crediting Benji Granillo with the assist. Granillo wanted to be a part of the scoring frenzy also, as he connected on a through ball from Luke Neves from eight yards out just 46 seconds later, tying the school record for fastest goals scored by different Tiger players. It was Granillo's first make on the season, pushing the Tiger lead to 4-0.
 
FHSU did not let off the gas pedal as Abdoulaye Cisse joined the frenzy with his fourth goal of the year on a pass from Derick Gonzalez. The goal gave the Tigers the 5-0 advantage that would hold up the rest of the match. With that assist, Gonzalez is now in a tie with Mauricio Castorino (2015) and Tanner Brock (2014) as the only Tigers to record seven consecutive matches with a point in team history.
 
Alex Rodela earned the victory in goal for the Tigers, improving his record to 1-1 on the season. Fort Hays State outshot Southern Nazarene 24-3 on the afternoon. The Tigers tallied 24 shots on the afternoon, with 13 shots on frame.
 
The Tigers continue their 2-0 start to MIAA play as they hit the road for a pair of conference matchups starting on Friday (Oct. 6) with 16th-ranked Upper Iowa. Kickoff against the Peacocks is set for 2 p.m. in Fayette, Iowa. The Tigers then travel to St. Charles, Mo., to take on Lindenwood on Sunday (Oct. 8). The match with the Lions is set to commence at 11 a.m.