FHSU Sports Information
Second-seeded Fort Hays State saw its MIAA Tournament Championship hopes come to an end in the semifinals on Thursday (Nov. 6), dropping a 2-0 contest to third-seeded Lindenwood in Olathe, Kan.
The Tigers were active offensively, firing 12 shots throughout the contest, including seven in the first half, but couldn’t find the net and were shutout for just the fourth time this season. Defensively, FHSU limited LWU to one shot in the first half, and three shots on goal in the second.
Early on, the Tigers’ offense looked primed for a big game, firing five shots in the opening five minutes, including a header from David Lucio that nearly scored, only to be tipped past the crossbar by an extended LWU goalkeeper, Andrew Hamerlinck. Soon after,Mauricio Castorino fired two shots from inside the box, but again Hamerlinck was there for both saves.
In the 23rd minute, LWU’s Alfredo Paez broke the scoreless tie with a header from inside the box, which skirted past Kent Freundfor a goal. Steven Hutchinson assisted on the score.
Michael Cole nearly tied it for FHSU at 58:35 after beating Hamerlinck to a ball near the top of the box, and while battling with a Lion defender, fired a shot that sailed just above the crossbar, keeping the deficit at one.
Soon after, though, LWU answered again. On a breakaway, Freund played Paez’s shot well, but the deflected towards the top of the box was rebounded by Stefan Andric, who found an open net for the score.
Down 2-0, the Tigers couldn’t recover in the final 30 minutes of regulation, ending the postseason run early.
Castorino led the Tigers with three shots on the night. Lucio and Cole each had two shots.
In goal, Freund played all 90 minutes with two saves, both of which came in the second period.
FHSU will now await the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. to determine its NCAA Tournament status.