FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
HAYS, Kan. – The 21st-ranked Fort Hays State women’s soccer team advanced to the semifinal round of the MIAA Tournament after a nail-biting shootout victory over Missouri Western on Wednesday (Nov. 2). The game officially goes down as a 0-0 draw, but the shootout determined the advancing team. That being the case, Fort Hays State is now 14-3-2 overall, while MWSU moved to 11-7-1 overall.
It was a defensive battle all night for both teams. In regulation, both teams managed to get off nine shots but neither could produce a goal. Both goalkeepers were outstanding as FHSU’s Abbie Flax was able to stop five shots and MWSU’s Lexie Martin stopped four.
The match-saving play for the Tigers came late in the second half when a Griffon forward took a one touch and sent it to the bottom right corner of the Tiger goal from about ten yards out. Flax reacted quickly diving to her left to barely get her fingertips on the ball and push it to the outside the post.
After a scoreless 90 minutes, the Tiger faithful at FHSU Soccer Stadium were treated to free soccer. In the first overtime period, the Tigers managed to outshoot the Griffons 3-0. Neither team could get anything going after 110 minutes and the shootout ensued.
The Tigers took the first kick of the night and Silvana Romero set the tone. She rifled a shot in the upper part of the goal the Griffon keeper had no chance on. After the equalizer from the Griffons, Dani Harris took to the line for the Tigers and she delivered going to the left side just inside the post past the diving keeper. Once again Missouri Western kept the pressure on and knotted the count at 2-2. Hannah Smith stepped to the line and fooled the keeper, who dove the opposite direction, sending her try inside the right post. With the Tigers leading 3-2, Abbie Flax stepped up and made a save to give the Tigers an edge. The Missouri Western shooter Ahslyn Powers sent a ball to Flax’s right side and did not get enough angle on it as Flax caught and controlled it. With the one-point lead, freshman Darby Hirsch showed maturity sending a shot inside the right post extending the FHSU lead to 4-2. After the Griffons pulled within one, Thalya Dwyer stepped to the line. Dwyer showed no signs of nerves and buried the fifth attempt to advance the Tigers by the score of 5-3 in the shootout.
Next up for the Tigers is No. 3 seed Central Oklahoma as they handled Emporia State earlier in the day by the score of 2-0. The final two rounds of the tournament will be held at the home site of the highest seed remaining starting Friday. If Central Missouri wins, it will host the final two rounds. If UCM falls, the remainder of the tournament will be in Hays.