FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team enters the 2016 season picked first in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, released on Thursday (Aug. 18). Last season the Tigers finished third in the conference with a 4-3-1 record. Northeastern State holds the second spot in the poll while the reigning champs, Upper Iowa, rounds out the top three.
The first look at the 2016 Fort Hays State men’s soccer team will take place this week as the Tigers play a pair of exhibition matches. The first is a home match against Northwest Kansas Tech on Friday (Aug. 19) at 7 pm, while the other is Sunday (Aug. 21) when they head to Hastings, Neb. to take on Hastings College. Last season the Tigers put together the best season in school history by posting a record of 13-5-2 and claiming their second consecutive NCAA Division II Central Region crown.
Offense was the key to the Tiger success in 2015 as they outscored opponents 42-26, averaging 2.1 goals per match. It was an entire team effort to achieve the offense FHSU put on display as 14 players scored at least one goal, 12 of which had at least one assist as well. Five players had 10 or more total points on the year.
The Tigers will get a big challenge the first week of regular season play when they play at Rockhurst University in a rematch of the 2015 national quarterfinal. FHSU fell just short of a final four appearance, eliminated on penalty kicks after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Rockhurst opens this season at No. 3 in the nation. Just a couple weeks later, FHSU travels out to the west coast where it will meet preseason No. 11 Seattle Pacific during a two-match swing in the state of Washington before getting into MIAA play.
Below is the 2016 MIAA Preseason Men’s Soccer Poll.
2016 MIAA Men’s Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Fort Hays State (3) 15
2. Northeastern State (1) 13
3. Upper Iowa (1) 11
4. Lindenwood 7
5. Southwest Baptist 4