FHSU Sports Information Department
Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer continues to turn heads in their short but successful history, finishing the 2014 season with an overall record of 11-6-4. With an MIAA record of 8-2-2, not only did the Tigers produce their most conference wins for a season in program history, but it led to their second-consecutive second place finish in the conference.
For the third consecutive year the Tigers made the NCAA Tournament, but reached new heights by making the National Quarterfinals to push past the round of 16 the team reached the two years prior. Fifth year head coach Brett Parker has an overall record of 45-22-11 while leading the Tigers and doesn’t look to be slowing down. “It was another big step in our program’s history,” said Parker, when reflecting back on the NCAA Tournament last year. Ranked No. 23 at the time, Fort Hays State fell to No. 5 Quincy University in the National Quarterfinals by a score of 3-2.
With four returning All-MIAA selections (Michael Cole, David Lucio, Mauricio Castorino, and Drew Wilson) and two all-region selections (Cole and Lucio), FHSU should be primed for another run at the NCAA Tournament and possibly an MIAA title. Throw in the other 19 returning players to the program, there is nothing but high expectations for the Tigers of 2015. The Tigers begin the year ranked No. 14 in the NSCAA Top 25 Poll.
Since the start of the men’s soccer at FHSU in 2011, FHSU has had produced four All-Americans, 24 all-region selections, and 24 All-MIAA selections.
The MIAA consists of just five schools this year in men’s soccer and there will only be an eight-game conference schedule. Former associate members Harding and Southern Nazarene dropped from the conference, so the make-up consists of Fort Hays State, Northeastern State, Lindenwood, Southwest Baptist, and Upper Iowa.
The Tigers open their season in the same location where it ended in 2014. On September 4th, FHSU opens the season against Missouri S&T in Tahlequah, Okla. The Tigers play their first home match of the season on September 18th against Lubbock Christian.