FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State saw its 11-match unbeaten streak snapped on Sunday (Nov. 2) as a corner kick deflected off of a Tiger into their own net late, lifting West Texas A&M by a score of 1-0. The 22nd-ranked Tigers completed their regular season with a record of 11-4-3, but the result spoiled Senior Day at a windswept FHSU Soccer Stadium.
Conditions were extremely windy with strong gusts out of the south. The Tigers had the wind with them in the first half and had several good scoring opportunities, but could not find the net. FHSU did a good job of controlling possessions in the second half into the wind, but found itself on the wrong end of an unfortunate break late in the match.
With 5:04 to play in regulation, West Texas A&M’s Vitor Cardoso rifled a corner kick into traffic in front of Fort Hays State’s goal, which deflected off of a Tiger defender and into the goal. It was the fourth-straight match in which FHSU allowed a goal inside of the final seven minutes of regulation. The Tigers have gone 1-1-2 in that stretch, as two of those helped the opponent gain a draw.
Fort Hays State was handed its first loss since September 20, when it lost 2-0 at Southern Nazarene, snapping an 11-match run that saw the Tigers go 9-0-2. West Texas A&M moved to 9-6-1 with the win.
Fort Hays State now turns its focus to the postseason, as it will be the No. 2 seed in the MIAA Tournament in Olathe, Kan. The Tigers take on No. 3 seed Lindenwood Thursday (Nov. 6) at 4 pm in a semifinal match. The other semifinal pits No. 1 seed Northeastern State against No. 4 seed Upper Iowa. FHSU made the championship match of the tournament last year, but lost on penalty kicks to Lindenwood.
The Tigers are currently ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Central Region rankings and are looking for their third-straight berth into the NCAA Tournament. The top two teams from the region will be selected to the tournament. Northeastern State is currently the No. 1 team in the region.