TAHLEQUAH, Okla. –  Missouri S&T ran out of time in its comeback effort in its season opening men's soccer contest Friday against 14^th-ranked Fort Hays State, as the Tigers held on for a 3-2 win at Northeastern State University.

Austin Parks (Rolla, Mo./Rolla) scored twice for the Miners in the final 10 minutes of the contest, but a penalty kick with under five minutes to play proved to be the decisive goal in the contest.

Following a scoreless first half where the teams combined for seven shots, the Tigers scored twice in a span of 3:32 early in the second half.  The first goal, scored by Mauricio Castorino, came when he tapped in a ball that was mishandled by S&T goalkeeper James Holloway (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Notre Dame Regional).

That was followed by a goal from David Lucio as he headed in Mauizio Costa's cross at the 56:40 mark to give Fort Hays State a two-goal advantage.

The Miners got a corner kick opportunity with under 10 minutes to play and used that to get on the scoreboard, as Parks headed in the corner from Ryan Lawhead (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) to cut the Tiger lead in half.  However, Fort Hays was awarded a penalty kick opportunity just over two minutes later, which Costa converted to make it 3-1.

Parks scored again in the final minute on a tap-in in front that again cut the lead to one, but the Miners ran out of time in a game where they outshot the Tigers 14-9.  Holloway was credited with three saves in goal.

The Miners have another nationally-ranked team on tap for Sunday, when they take on No. 21 Northeastern State in a 1 p.m. contest.