By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Fort Hays State women’s soccer team saw their 2022 season come to an end as they fell to Emporia State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday (Nov. 11) by a score of 5-1. The Hornets scored three times in the first half before the Tigers got on the board in the second half. However, the Hornets added two more goals following to seal their win.
Field conditions were very soft in several locations due to overnight rain in Warrensburg, and with cold temperatures added on, players had to struggle through adverse conditions.
Mackenzie Dimarco scored four goals for the Hornets tying the NCAA Tournament single-game record. Her first goal came in the 11th minute when she received a pass from Joanie Westcoat and dribbled inside the box and split Tiger defenders to get off a shot. The Hornets extended their lead just eight minutes later when Dimarco corralled the ball at the Tiger goal line and brought it back toward the center where she found a wide open Haley Sparks who tucked the ball just inside the post. Emporia State netted its final goal of the first half just two seconds before time expired. Dimarco was able to get free when a pair of Tigers lost their footing and she shot the ball past Isabel Robbenat close range.
The Tigers struck first in the second half when a corner kick from Gracen Chaney soared into the box. It eventually found Britney Arneson after getting knocked around a bit, who shot it through the crowd into the net in the 53rdminute. The Hornets answered in the 67th minute when Dimarco raced past the Tiger defense and shot the ball past Robben in a 1-on-1 situation, pushing their lead back to three at 4-1. ESU scored their final goal of the contest in the 79th minute when Westcoat sent a long pass to Dimarco, who gained control of the ball in the box and chipped it into the net. It was the first time this season FHSU allowed more than two goals in a match.
The Hornets took nine shots and placed eight of them on target while the Tigers took 13 shots and put four of them on goal. Robben and Mackenzi Goen each finished with three saves on the day.