WICHITA FALLS, Texas – In frantic opening twenty minutes, Eastern New Mexico Men's Soccer (1-2-3) produced a 2-2 draw with #14 Fort Hays State (3-1-1) on Saturday afternoon at Stang Park as part of the 2024 MSU Soccer Fall Festival.
 
The nationally-ranked Lions started quickly, heading in a free kick in the second minute. However, the Greyhounds responded with a strike from Nick Huenig just a few minutes later. A long clearance from Colin Hyzy found Huenig down the left wing, the forward looked up to see the goalkeeper of his line following a free kick attempt. Huenig lofted the ball over the keeper's head from just past the halfway line to tie the game.

Ben Sauerländer potted a goal shortly after to give the Greyhounds a lead just 20 minutes after conceding. Sauerländer closed down the FHSU keeper, and a friendly bounce allowed the forward to tap into an empty net. Fort Hays responded shortly after to set the score at 2-2 after 51 minutes. From there the match turned into a stalemate, finishing 2-2 between the squads.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• Today's draw is the first in series history between the two teams.
• Huenig and Sauerländer both scored their second goal of the season. Hyzy found his first assist of the campaign.
• Rodrigo Velasco made his first start of their career for the Greyhounds, playing the full 90 minutes alongside five others: Hyzy, Kris McDonald, Pablo Nodar, and Loris Tsiatsipy.
• ENMU have a full week until they are back on the field, facing Sul Ross State in their final non-conference matchup of the season on Sat., Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium. The team will honor its seven graduating seniors prior to the match.