The Peacock men's soccer team headed down to Hays, Kan. on Thursday night to match up with the Tigers of Fort Hays State University in their sixth MIAA game of the season. Upper Iowa trailed at halftime, and then the Tigers offense continued to get better in the second half to completely pull away from their guests. UIU ultimately fell 5-2 despite scoring two second-half goals. With the loss, Upper Iowa drops to 5-9 on the season and 0-6 in MIAA play. Fort Hays State improves to 9-5-2 overall and 6-1 in the league schedule.

"It was blustery conditions tonight," said Head Coach Willie McGowan. "We stood tall in the first half, knowing that we were going to give up shots in the first half playing against the wind. We were happy that we almost got to halftime before conceding the second goal."

The home team controlled the ball the entire first half, outshooting the Peacocks 11-0 in the first 45 minutes. Connor Rortvedt picked up four saves in the period for UIU, but surrendered two first-half goals as well. The scoring began in the eighth minute when Abdoulaye Cisse scored his eighth goal fo the season off a thru ball from Derek Gonzalez and Tobias Patino. After the early lead, there would not be another score until the 44th minute when FHSU took all the momentum into halftime. The home team scored on an own goal, when a header went through the net after a pass into the middle.

The second half saw the Upper Iowa offense get going, but the defense gave up three more scores as well. UIU got the second half started in the 49th minute when Italo Martins Soares scored his team-leading fifth goal of the year off a pass from Efrain Gonzalez Jr. The lob shot over the keeper got the visitors on the board, but the Tigers would answer back. Gonzalez scored in the 60th minute for FHSU on a rebound after a blocked shot by the Peacocks. The Tigers led 3-1 at that point, but the scoring was not done yet.

"We showed a great amount of character to get right back in the game after the break," added McGowan. "Making the game 2-1 and 3-2, we showed heart. However, we did leave ourselves exposed at the back as we search for equalizing goals and the win. That ultimately left too much space and allowed for us to be caught on the counter."

Tate Lofdahl scored his first career goal in the 62nd minute, after a corner kick from teammate Ryan Crabtree. Upper Iowa took six shots in the second half and tallied a .333 scoring percentage, but the Tigers continued to put pressure on the Peacock defense to add to their lead. With the score 3-2, FHSU put the nail in the coffin with goals in the 71st and 87th minute.

For the match, Fort Hays State outshot Upper Iowa 27-6, including a 16-5 advantage in shots on goal. Rortvedt tallied 11 saves in net for the Peacocks, and continues to add to his impressive total with 83.

"Connor showed once again what a quality keeper he is," McGowan said. "He pulled off some fantastic saves tonight and we are really pleased with how the freshman are stepping up with Italo and Tate on the scoresheet offensively."

"We've got three games left on the season, all at home, so hopefully we can finish strong and get that support out there to back us up and push us to a few wins to close the season."

The Peacocks will take the weekend off and then play a home game on Monday, Oct. 30 at 12 p.m. at Pattison Field against the Marauders of the University of Mary in a non-conference match. UIU will then have two more home games the following weekend, Nov. 3 and 5, against Northeastern State and Southwest Baptist to close out the season.