FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
The 21st-ranked Fort Hays State women’s soccer team hosts Missouri Western in the first round of the MIAA Tournament on Wednesday (Nov. 2) at 6 pm. The Tigers are the No. 2 seed in the tournament after being crowned MIAA Regular Season Co-Champions with Central Missouri. Central Missouri goes in as the No. 1 seed, since it won the head-to-head matchup with FHSU earlier this season. Missouri Western is the No. 7 seed with an overall record of 11-7 and MIAA record of 6-5.
Fort Hays State enters Wednesday tied for the most wins overall in program history, carrying a record of 14-3-1. The Tigers are amid their longest win streak in program history entering the match with eight consecutive wins. The Tigers took the first matchup with the Griffons this season by the score of 3-0, which was the second win of the current eight match streak.
The Tiger defense has been sharp all season long. The back line has kept opponents scoreless in six of the last seven matches and ranks eighth in the nation in goals against average (.373). Abbie Flax has 10 of the 11 shutouts in goal this year and the team has surrendered just a total of seven goals all year.
The Tigers have also been impressive on offense, averaging 2.06 goals per match. The 37 goals scored this season by FHSU is second most in the MIAA. It has been an entire team effort as 11 players have at least one goal, and nine have two or more. Four players, Jasmine Beaulieu (2 goals, 6 assists), Eden Stoddard (7 goals, 1 assist), Thalya Dwyer (7 goals, 2 assists) and Kelsey Steffens (6 goals, 5 assists) have 10 or more points, while six others have at least five points.
Missouri Western is having a successful season as 11 wins is a new program record. Cassidy Menke leads the offense, ranking third in the MIAA in goals with nine. Maddy Cowell leads in assists with five.
The winner of this match will face the winner of No. 3 Central Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Emporia State on Friday (Nov. 4). The site of the match will be determined by Wednesday’s first round outcomes.