Fort Hays State University women’s soccer (4-3-1, 2-1-1 MIAA) opened up their four game Missouri road trip this past weekend, splitting the two games with a win and a loss.
In the second game in Joplin, Mo., the Tigers posted their fourth clean sheet win of the season beating Missouri Southern State University (3-4-1, 1-3 MIAA) 1-0.
“The defense did a very good job,” said Craig Shaw, head coach. “The mid field picked it up from the game before, and the forward line really did a better job of creating things.”
Red shirt goal keeper Kristen Thompson, Manhattan, Kan., freshman, posted her fourth shutout of the year making eight saves in 90 minutes of complete action.
“Very excited about her first year in the program playing for us,” Shaw said.
Thompson and the back line of defender Mallory Diederich, Topeka, junior, and defender Jamie Babyak, Austin, Texas, senior, all had complete games contributing to the fourth shut out on the year.
“Everybody in that back position is pushing each other,” Shaw said. “To have four clean sheets in eight games is pretty impressive.”
Forward Cenayda Guzman, Oklahoma City, Okla., junior, scored the lone goal for the Tigers, her second goal on the Missouri trip off an assist from forward Jordan Shaw, Lakewood, Colo., senior, just four minutes into the second half to secure the 1-0 victory.
“It was a lot better performance than the SBU game,” Shaw said. “We had probably about four or five really good chances. Now we got to make sure we finish those chances because you never know against good teams.
If you don’t finish those chances, you’re going to lose the game. But I think we can do better.”
Game one of the road trip was played in Bolivar, Mo., against a Southwest Baptist University ( 7-1, 4-0 MIAA) team.
The Tigers played the Bearcats, posting a shut through the first 60 minutes. A 20 minute span allowed for what Shaw calls “soft goals,” which cost the Tigers the game 2-1.
“If you let good players have space, they’re going to punish you and that’s what we did on the first goal and the second goal,” Shaw said. “We gave the ball away and didn’t work hard enough to get it back. We have to do a better job of staying focused for the full 90.”
The Tigers were forced into a scramble late in the game. Fort Hays got their first goal with 10 minutes remaining when Guzman capitalized on a pass from forward Hailey Davey, Evergreen, Colo., senior, to make it 2-1.
A controversial no call that could of set up a penalty shot for the potential equalizer was the difference in the Tigers’ loss.
“It’s just the focus,” Shaw said. “We got to make sure that we play the full 90 and even if we aren’t playing well on the ball. We have to make sure defensively we stay sound.”
The Tigers have two games left on the road trip, starting with Lindenwood University (3-3-2, 2-1-1 MIAA) on Friday and ending with University of Central Missouri (7-0-1, 4-0 MIAA) on Sunday.
The Tigers will be changing things up to battle with Central Missouri, who is currently first in the conference.
Shaw says they will be switching up their formation a bit to give them the ability to go at UCM and keep the ball a little better. They will be moving one of their better defenders, Gabrielle Makatura, Lakewood, Colo., junior, to the outside.
“We wont be scared, I think we have the ability to beat them, but we have to play our game and take it to them,” Shaw said.