By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
For the fifth-straight season the Fort Hays State women’s soccer team has advanced to the MIAA Tournament semifinals. The Tigers posted a 3-0 first round win at home over Missouri Western to stay alive in the conference tournament. Fort Hays State improves to 11-6-2 overall after finishing MIAA play with an 8-3 record.
FHSU took the regular season matchup with the Griffons in shutout fashion following a 1-0 win on their home turf. The post-season meeting would see similar results as the Tigers earned their seventh shutout of the season at 3-0.
In the 21st minute, senior Vianei Sanchez received a touch pass at the top of the box from the foot of Chloe Montano from 22-yards out to net the first Tiger goal of the game. FHSU boasted the 1-0 lead through the remainder of the first half and into the locker room. Fort Hays State tripled Missouri Western’s first half shot attempts by a 9-3 margin.
The Tigers looked to better their previous score against the Griffons as they maintained an offensive surge heading into the second half. Less than three minutes after halftime, Darby Hirsch earned her fifth goal of the season following a 30-yard solo blast, sending the ball over the Griffon keeper’s left shoulder. That goal expanded the Tiger lead to 2-0.
With the two-goal lead remaining put for a majority of the second half, Fort Hays State decided to seal the win with yet another goal in the 88th minute to ensure their advancement. Freshman Cailey Perkins captured her eighth goal of the year in front of the net following passes from Nikita Woods and Sanchez. That goal added to the Tiger lead and would hold strong until the time ran out, giving Fort Hays State a 3-0 first round win.
Things got heated at certain points in the contest as three yellow cards were handed out. In the 60th minute, a double yellow was awarded to Woods and Anika Nobs of the Griffons. The final card was passed out to Olympia Katsouridis for FHSU with less than two minutes remaining in the match.
Fort Hays State more than doubled Missouri Western’s shot attempts in the game, earning an 18-7 advantage. Perkins, Woods and Montano led all players with four shots each, followed closely by Sanchez with three of her own.
Megan Kneefel captures the win in net for the Tigers and improves her season record to 9-5-2. Alongside three saves on the night, Kneefel now owns 75 this year. Anna Mayer claims the loss for the Griffons after collecting six saves, and drops her season record to 11-5.
This win sets up a meeting with No. 1 seeded Central Oklahoma who took care of business in their first round matchup against No. 8 Washburn, 4-1. The semifinal matchup will be played in Edmond, Okla. on Friday (Nov. 2) with a time to be decided later.