Women’s Soccer Prepares for Harding in First Round of NCAA Tournament

The Fort Hays State women’s soccer team heads to Mankato, Minnesota for the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday (Nov. 11) where they take on Harding University. Kickoff is set for 1 pm.

The Tigers enter the regional as the No. 3 seed, looking for a program record 15th win currently at 14-4-2 overall. Harding is the No. 6 seed while sporting an 11-6-2 record. The winner of Friday’s match will then face the No. 2 seed in the region, Minnesota State on Sunday (Nov. 13).

Defense has been the backbone for the Tigers this season allowing just 11 goals all season. Between the pipes sophomore goalkeeper Abbie Flax has been phenomenal. She is currently tied for the most shutouts in a season at FHSU with 11 of her 12 wins coming with a blank slate. FHSU allows only 0.52 goals per game and has allowed one goal or less in 19 of 20 matches.

On the offensive end it has been a team effort all season as FHSU has 39 goals on the year. Junior Kelsey Steffens now owns the FHSU career record for points (6 goals, 5 assists this season). With 17 points on the year, she now has 49 in her career.

In addition to Steffens, Thalya Dwyer and Eden Stoddard have contributed equally in goals, each with a team-leading seven. Dani Harris has chipped in with four goals, three of which are game winners.

Jasmine Beaulieu has been an excellent distributor from the midfield position as she leads the team in assists with six. Darby Hirsch and Steffens are right behind here with five each, while five other Tigers have recorded multiple assists on the year. Overall the Tigers have assisted on 32 of 39 goals this season.

Harding enters the Friday matchup going 2-0-1 in its last three contests. The tie occurred in the Great American Conference Tournament Finals and Harding claimed the conference automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament by advancing on penalty kicks. Bethany Sutherland will be the key focus for the Tiger defense as she leads Harding in goals with 14. She is tied for 20th in the nation in the category. Carly Steven leads the Lady Bisons in assists with six, while three others have contributed with five assists each.