KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Senior
Alex Laing's two-goal night lifted No. 5 Rogers State Men's Soccer (3-0-0) to victory over Rockhurst (1-2-0) 5-1 Wednesday at Bourke Field.
RSU built the result with a 20-11 shot advantage, putting eight attempts on goal to the Hawks' three. The Hillcats scored three times in the first half and twice after halftime, while holding the Hawks scoreless in the second half despite seven Hawks shots and seven corners in the second half.
Sam Ryder put an early Cats' shot on frame at 1:56, but the Hawks moved in front when Riccardo Legnante converted a penalty kick at 3:57. RSU continued to generate looks, including two
Matthew Reed attempts and shots from
Brandon O'Rourke and
Ashton Medina during the middle of the half, before
Harkaran Sahota (2) scored at 30:53 off Medina's assist to tie it at 1-1.
Gian Filizzola (1) put the Hillcats ahead at 34:42 with his first career goal as a Hillcat, finishing a play assisted by Medina and
Jamie Kennedy, and the half turned more physical with multiple fouls and yellow cards before the Hawks earned a corner at 38:26 and sent a shot wide at 41:10. Laing (1) converted a penalty kick at 41:56 to extend the advantage, and the Hillcats carried a 3-1 lead into halftime.
RSU added to its lead immediately after halftime, with Medina (1) scoring at 46:00 off assists from
Louis Bassett and Laing before Laing (2) made it 5-1 at 47:00 from Sahota. The Hawks pushed back with a run of chances, including a Rhys Laws shot off the top woodwork at 55:48 and additional attempts around a 62:46 corner, while Ryder forced a save from Samuele Neri at 58:05.
Tristan Miller kept the Hawks out during another stretch of pressure, saving shots at 76:18 and 77:46 as the hosts earned four corners between 73:51 and 78:44. The Hillcats generated the late response with corners at 81:09 and 84:18 and shots from O'Rourke,
Aaron Singh and Bassett, closing out the second half and a 5-1 win.
Laing scored twice and added an assist for a team-high five points, putting both of his shots on goal and converting his penalty attempt. Medina finished with a goal and two assists while leading RSU with six shots. Filizzola scored the game-winning goal on one of his two shots. Sahota added a goal and an assist, putting his lone shot on frame.
In goal, Tristn Miller (3-0) improved to 3-0 in his freshman campaign with two saves.
Rogers State will return to action in Tyler, Texas, against UT Tyler on Saturday at 7 p.m.
