FHSU Sports Information Department
The Fort Hays State women will host Southwest Baptist on tonight (Nov. 4) at 6 pm in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. The Tigers are the No. 4 seed in the tournament, taking on the No. 5 seeded Bearcats at FHSU Soccer Stadium in Hays.
The Tigers closed out the regular season on a three-match win streak. All three were 1-0 shutouts with wins over Emporia State, Nebraska-Kearney, and Washburn. The win streak vaulted the Tigers into fourth place alone in the conference standings at 7-4. FHSU finished the regular season at 10-7-1 overall.
The Tigers have still found a way to post eight shutouts this year despite a rash of injuries. The Tigers have played gritty soccer down the stretch, allowing just two goals in their last five matches. FHSU has not surrendered multiple goals in a match since October 9, a span of seven matches since that date. The Tiger defense has been very strong this year, allowing two goals in a match just four times, which is the season high for an opponent.
Southwest Baptist was one of those four opponents to score two goals on the Tigers this year. The Bearcats edged FHSU 2-1 earlier this year in Hays on September 25. SBU enters the match at 9-8-1 overall while finishing 6-4-1 in the MIAA. The Tiger defense looks to shut down an SBU offense averaging nearly two goals per match, led by Karla Jamison with 13 goals on the season.
Fort Hays State looks to move to the MIAA Tournament Semifinals for the second straight year. Last year as the No. 3 seed, FHSU defeated No. 6 seed Missouri Western 1-0 at FHSU Soccer Stadium in a thrilling double-overtime match where Kelsey Steffens provided the game winner at 107:15.
Freshman Cassi Moosburger is the top goal scorer for the Tigers with four, followed by Steffens with three. Abbie Flax has four of the eight shutout wins in goal for the Tigers while Kristen Thompson has three and Kimi Kaniaupio has one.