FHSU Sports Information Department
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State men’s soccer was tabbed as the No. 14 ranked team in the nation in the NSCAA Division II Preseason Rankings for the 2015 season on Thursday (Aug. 6). It is the same ranking the Tigers held in the final poll of the 2014 season.
The Tigers reached new heights in 2014 as they advanced to the National Quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament (Super Region 3 Final) for the first time. FHSU, ranked No. 23 in the nation at the time, was on the verge of advancing to the National Semifinals with a 2-0 lead on No. 5 ranked Quincy University at halftime in the national quarterfinal match, but Quincy rallied for three goals in the second half to edge FHSU 3-2. Quincy finished as the No. 3 ranked team in the nation with a record of 21-2-2. Fort Hays State finished its season at 11-6-4 overall.
Fort Hays State reached the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year in 2014, just the program’s fourth year of existence. The Tigers have produced at least 11 wins in each year of the program’s short history. Brett Parker enters his fifth season as head coach, now with a record of 45-22-11 in his time guiding FHSU. The Tigers have been a mainstay in the national rankings in each of the last three years, reaching as high as No. 9 in the nation during the 2012 season.
Over four years, Fort Hays State has produced four All-Americans, 24 all-region selections, and 24 All-MIAA selections, including the 2014 MIAA Player of the Year, Tanner Brock.
Fort Hays State returns four All-MIAA selections (Michael Cole, David Lucio, Mauricio Castorino, and Drew Wilson) and two all-region selections (Cole and Lucio) in 2015.
Fort Hays State is one of two MIAA schools referenced in the 2015 preseason national rankings. Conference rival Northeastern State is ranked No. 21 in the initial poll. Northeastern State was the MIAA Regular Season and Tournament Champion last year and hosted the Super Regional of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers knocked off the RiverHawks on their home field in the Super Regional Semifinal, advancing on penalty kicks (3-2) after the teams played to a 1-1 draw.
Fort Hays State begins its exhibition play on Saturday, August 15 against Northwest Kansas Tech in Hays. The Tigers have three preseason friendlies to tune up for the regular season, which begins on September 4 against Missouri Science & Technology in Tahlequah, Okla.
Rank School Prev. W-L-T
1 Lynn University 1 19-1-1
2 University Of Charleston 2 22-1-1
3 Quincy University 3 21-2-2
4 Colorado Mesa University 5 19-1-1
5 Young Harris College 4 18-4-1
6 California State University-Los Angeles 6 16-2-2
7 Southern New Hampshire University 8 17-1-2
8 Seattle Pacific University 7 16-3-1
9 Mercyhurst University 10 19-3-0
10 Limestone College 9 16-5-2
11 LIU Post 11 16-3-1
12 St. Edward’s University 12 10-6-4
13 Saint Leo University 13 11-6-4
14 Fort Hays State University 14 15-5-2
15 Merrimack College 15 15-5-0
16 Southern Connecticut State University 17 14-5-2
16 Christian Brothers University 16 14-3-1
18 Saginaw Valley State University 18 14-3-0
19 Azusa Pacific University 19 13-4-2
20 Midwestern State University 20 14-5-1
21 Northeastern State University 22 16-3-2
22 Wingate University 21 10-6-2
23 Drury University 24 16-5-0
24 Notre Dame College 24 10-6-2
25 Northwood University (Mich.) NR 14-4-1