By FHSU Sports Information
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State women’s soccer team is ready to get back into action for the 2018 season as they have been picked fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The rankings, released Aug. 16, tabbed the Tigers in their position after capturing 88 points.
With the 2017 season now in the rearview mirror, Fort Hays State looks to build off a year in which they accomplished a 10-6-4 overall record, alongside a 7-3-1 MIAA tally. Last season, the Tigers made it into the MIAA conference semifinals where they fell to eventual national champions in Central Missouri, 3-0. This loss came after a thrilling 14-round shootout at home against Missouri Southern, winning 11-10 in penalty kicks.
Focusing on this season, the Tigers will see a mix of old and new on the pitch, with both returning and incoming players looking to make contributions. Coach Blake Reynolds, now in just his second season at the helm of Fort Hays State, brings in a strong recruiting class to pair up alongside his returners. The Tigers bring back 12 athletes who saw time last season, with two red-shirts coming back as well. Additionally, 12 incoming freshmen will wear the FHSU jersey for the first time. For another year, Australia will be represented on the roster as junior Nikita Woods heads to Hays from Larimer County Community College. Woods continues to expand her soccer journey after calling Corrimal, Australia her home prior to her collegiate career. Woods comes off two years with the Golden Eagles, amounting 25 goals and 10 assists in her time. Another junior transfer being welcomed to the Tigers roster is Chloe Montano from Calabasas, Calif. Montaño brings in two years of experience from Santa Barbara City College where she contributed 12 goals alongside 11 assists. The freshman class is represents four states, with players coming to Hays from Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and California.
The Tigers are coming off a season which they out-scored their opponents 23-17, while also outshooting the same opponents 247-211. Fort Hays State will look to fill the void of former leading scorer Eden Stoddard who led the team with eight goals during the 2017 season. This year, junior forward Darby Hirsch is the returning leading scorer for the Tigers with three contributed last season. Only Olympia Katsouridis and Catalina Hernandez, along with Hirsch, have a goal to their name on this season’s roster.
Other notable returners for the Tigers are Paige Utterback, Taryn Schnell and Shayla Podlena. Both Utterback and Schnell participated in all 20 games last season, while Podlena started 13 matches. Megan Kneefel will be the anchor in goal for the Tigers as she is back for her junior season after starting six games and recording 40 saves with a 4-2-2 sophomore season record.
Preseason for the Tigers is just around the corner as they play host to Kansas Wesleyan in their lone exhibition game on August 24 at 6 p.m. The regular season gets started with a trip to Fayette, Iowa where the Tigers will face-off against home team Upper Iowa on August 30, followed by a tilt September 1 against Southwest Minnesota State. Fort Hays State will make its first regular-season home appearance On September 14 against Emporia State slated for 7 p.m.
Below is the 2018 MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
2018 MIAA Women’s Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Central Missouri (11) – 121
2. Missouri Western (1) – 108
3. Northeastern State – 98
4. Fort Hays State – 88
5. Central Oklahoma – 85
6. Missouri Southern – 66
7. Washburn – 62
8. Emporia State – 45
9. Lindenwood – 43
10. Northwest Missouri – 40
11. Nebraska Kearney – 23
12. Southwest Baptist – 14