BY FHSU Sports Information
After going 1-1 in its first road-trip of the season, the Fort Hays State women’s soccer team looks to gain momentum with a trip to Colorado now on the horizon. The Tigers will first face a strong squad in No. 17 UC-Colorado Springs on Friday before a Sunday tilt against CSU-Pueblo on Sunday to round-out the weekend. This will be the first time the Tigers will face either opponent since the 2014 season with Fort Hays State falling on the losing side in both matches.
Last weekend, the Tigers opened up the 2018 season with a 1-0 loss to Upper Iowa, followed by a 4-1 win alongside a Chloe Montano hat-trick over Southwest Minnesota State. This was the first time the Tigers have lost their opening match since the 2013 season at the hands of Southwest Minnesota State, 1-0. Fort Hays State now enters the upcoming weekend trip at 1-1.
The first meeting of the weekend will pit the Tigers against No. 3 UC-Colorado Springs, a team which is coming off a 2-1 loss to West Texas A&M on Labor Day. With the loss, the Mountain Lions will take on the Tigers alongside a 1-1-1 overall record in the early season. UC-Colorado Springs earned the RMAC No. 1 preseason ranking for 2018. Tori Maydew leads the Mountain Lions through the first three games, as she has accounted for two of the team’s three goals so far. She ties the team with Tarah Patterson as they both have attempted seven shots. So far, the Mountain Lions have out-shot their opponents 49-22. Kaylyn Smith anchors UC-Colorado Springs in goal with here 1-1-1 record and eight saves.
On Sunday, the Tigers will prepare for a 1 p.m. showdown against Colorado State-Pueblo. The ThunderWolves are unbeaten heading into the next week of competition after going 2-0 against West Texas A&M and Lubbock Christian. The ThunderWolves only gave up one goal through the two matches. Four different CSU-Pueblo players earned a goal over the weekend, while 11 attempted at least one shot, proving the ThunderWolves offense is steady. The Tigers will have to get the ball past the strong hold in net for CSU- Pueblo in Rylie Martin. Martin has recorded 11 saves alongside her 2-0 record to start her junior campaign.
The Tigers will face off with No. 17 UC-Colorado Springs on Friday (Sept. 7) at 8 p.m. CST, followed by the meeting with CSU-Pueblo on Sunday (Sept. 9) at 1 p.m.