FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State remained alive for a possible first-round home match in the MIAA Tournament as it downed Nebraska-Kearney 1-0 on a cold, rainy night at FHSU Soccer Stadium. With the win, the Tigers moved to 9-7-1 overall and 6-4 in the MIAA. UNK dropped to 4-9-4 overall and 3-5-2 in the MIAA.
The Lopers committed a foul in the box in the 22nd minute and Gabrielle Makatura buried a penalty kick, which proved to be all the scoring FHSU needed in the team’s seventh shutout of the season.
With a wet field and slick ball, both teams were limited in good shot opportunities. FHSU outshot UNK 11-6 in the match.
Making her first appearance in goal for the Tigers, senior Kimi Kaniaupio recorded the shutout win. She saved five shots in the winning effort. Ali Hirschman took the loss for UNK in goal with three saves.
Eight Tiger seniors were honored at halftime of the match, playing in their final regular-season home match. Makatura and Kaniaupio were part of the eight, which also included Dani Harris, Kylee Loneker, Mallory Diederich, Cenayda Guzman, Ember Albertson and Jordan Hester. Loneker, Diederich, and Hester, who are all injured, came out of the match after a minute of action in a nice gesture for three seniors that have made big contributions to the program.
The Tigers close out the regular season on Sunday at Washburn University in the final conference match of the season. The Tigers are tied for fourth in the MIAA standings at 6-4 with Southwest Baptist. SBU has the tiebreak on FHSU for hosting in the first round of the conference tournament if they remain tied after Sunday.