WINFIELD, Kan. — The Hesston College men's soccer team battled back from a halftime deficit to earn a 1-1 draw against Southwestern College on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Richard L. Jantz Stadium. Francesco Dardi scored the equalizer in the 73rd minute as the Larks moved to 11-3-2 on the season.
Southwestern applied pressure early, forcing Hesston goalkeeper Harry Morris into a save in the fifth minute. Morris was called upon again in the 19th minute, stopping an attempt from Nicola Antiglio to keep the match scoreless.
The Larks began creating opportunities midway through the first half. Santiago Llanos sent a shot high in the 18th minute, while Jaiden Trevelyan missed wide in the 23rd. However, Southwestern broke through in the 37th minute when Adrian Gimenez scored off an assist from Cooper Bates, giving the Moundbuilders a 1-0 advantage.
Hesston nearly answered before halftime. Mario Delgado put a shot on target in the 43rd minute, but Southwestern goalkeeper Wyatt Long made the save. Dardi followed with an attempt that went wide, sending the Larks into the break trailing by one.
The Larks increased their offensive pressure in the second half, earning a corner kick in the 58th minute that led to a shot from Mateo Gonzalez. Hesston continued pushing forward, with Llanos having an attempt blocked in the 70th minute.
The breakthrough came at the 72:47 mark when Dardi found the back of the net for his first goal of the season, leveling the match at 1-1.
Hesston nearly grabbed the lead just over a minute later when Alexander Radu put a shot on goal, but Long made the save. The Larks continued searching for a winner, with Gonzalez sending another attempt high in the 89th minute before Hesston earned a final corner kick in the closing seconds.
Neither team found another goal, and the match ended in a draw.
Hesston held a narrow 9-8 advantage in shots and a 5-4 edge in corner kicks. Dardi, Gonzalez and Llanos each recorded two shots to lead the Larks, while Morris finished with two saves in 90 minutes.
The draw moves Hesston to 11-3-2 overall.
The Larks will close out their regular season Friday, Oct. 30, hosting Ecclesia College at 2 p.m. in Hesston, Kan.
