FHSU Sports Information Department
The 25th-ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team controls its own conference destiny this weekend in Hays. With two wins, the Tigers can claim their first-ever MIAA Championship, but standing in the way will be Upper Iowa on Friday (Nov. 6) at 5 pm and Lindenwood on Sunday (Nov. 8) at 1 pm.
Entering the weekend, the Tigers have put together an overall record of 11-4-1 and an MIAA record of 3-2-1. The Tigers currently sit fourth in the MIAA, but they are the only team in the conference with two remaining games. With two wins, the Tigers can leap all three teams in front of them (Upper Iowa, Lindenwood, and Northeastern State) and win the conference title.
Fort Hays State cannot settle for anything short of two wins (ties or losses) or the conference title will go to one (or more) of the three teams in front of them.
Upper Iowa, ranked 20th with an overall mark of 12-3-1, can clinch the MIAA title outright on Friday if it knocks off FHSU. The Peacocks (5-2 MIAA) are currently tied with Northeastern State for the conference lead at 15 points and a win would give them an insurmountable 18 points. The Tigers rallied for a come from behind win against the Peacocks in the first matchup of the season in Fayette, taking the game 3-2 with three unanswered goals in the second half.
Lindenwood comes to Hays on Sunday sporting an 8-6-2 record overall and 4-2-1 MIAA mark. The Lions currently sit in second place in the MIAA and have a shot to take home the MIAA Championship as well pending Friday’s results. If FHSU defeats Upper Iowa, then Sunday becomes a winner-take-all affair. A draw means that neither team gets the crown. Neither team was able to find the back of the net after 110 minutes in the first meeting of the season in St. Charles, Mo.
Northeastern State’s only shot of claiming a portion of the conference title is to have Upper Iowa lose to Fort Hays State and have Lindenwood tie Fort Hays State. If that happens, NSU would share the conference title with Upper Iowa.
Fort Hays State’s offense is led by Mauricio Castorino who leads the MIAA in points (27), goals (9), and assists (9). Two other Tigers find themselves in the top ten in points as well. Maurizio Costa sits fourth with 19 points (9 goals, 1 assist) and Joe Albright is seventh with 17 points (5 goals, 4 assists).
Not only are the Tigers looking for their first MIAA title, they are also looking to solidify their spot in the NCAA Tournament for a fourth straight year. The Tigers have been ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Central Region rankings for two consecutive weeks. The top two teams in the region move on to the NCAA Tournament. There is no MIAA Tournament this year with just five teams in the conference.