By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
On a rainy, cold day in Hays, the Fort Hays State women’s soccer team dampened Northwest Missouri State in a 3-0 tilt. The Tigers leave the Bearcats winless in MIAA play at 0-4, while FHSU improves their conference record to 3-2 alongside a 5-5-2 overall mark. Fort Hays State increases their win-streak to three contests, all accounting for MIAA victories.
After neither team was able to get on the board in the first half, the Tigers and Bearcats headed to the locker room locked at 0-0. However, Fort Hays State was set on ensuring the victory as they went off in the second half, accounting on three goals.
Darby Hirsch netted her third goal of the season in the 51st minute off a reversed cross pass from Zariah Smith to put the Tigers up 1-0. This would remain the score for over 20 minutes before freshman Macy Decker took the game into her own hands. Decker would not only earn her first goal of her Tiger career, but added one more for good measure. In the 73rd minute, Decker captured a pass from Olympia Katsouridis to put Fort Hays State up 2-0. Just 10 minutes later, Decker connected with Smith as she earned her second assist of the match while Decker captured her second goal in the contest. This would prove to be the final goal of the contest, but would give the Tigers a 3-0 shutout win over Northwest Missouri State.
The Bearcats had the slight advantage in shots in the game, edging the Tigers 10-9. Gloria Hanrahan for Northwest Missouri State and Chloe Montano for Fort Hays State led all players with three shot attempts each.
Megan Kneefel adds another win to her goalkeeping record as she improves to 5-4-2 on the season. In the match, Kneefel added four saves to up her season total to 47. Alexis Serna-Castillo took the loss for the Bearcats and drops to 1-7 on the season while adding one save to her number for the year.
The Tigers are back on the road this coming weekend as they face No. 17 Central Missouri in Warrensburg on Friday (Oct. 12). They continue their Missouri visit with a Sunday (Oct. 14) matchup at Lindenwood.