By FHSU Sports Information
The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team kicks off the 2018 campaign with a home contest against McKendree University on Friday (Aug. 31) at 7 p.m. inside FHSU Soccer Stadium. The Tigers will then travel to Kansas City, Mo. to take on Rockhurst University on Sunday (Sept. 2) at 3:30 p.m. Live stats and live video links will be available both matches.
The 2017 season ended with a bitter taste for the Tigers as they failed to claim a potential fourth-straight NCAA Division II Central Region Championship. The Tigers will look to rebound from that and an early-season loss to McKendree last season after allowing the Bearcats to score two goals in the final five minutes of regulation.
FHSU begins this year at the top of the MIAA in the preseason coaches’ poll and are coming off their first conference championship in program history. The Tigers have many new faces, as head coach Brett Parker signed 16 new athletes to the squad. After losing Derick Gonzalez (All-American, Central Region Player of the Year and MIAA Player of the Year), this new mix of players look to build on the program success for the future.
The Tigers return many of the same experienced players with eight upper-classmen who have seen significant minutes in their Tiger careers. Senior Luis Torres (2016 All-America selection) anchors the defense leading the returners accumulating 1,501 minutes on the pitch last season. Also returning on the back line are senior Caesar Jones (2017 All-MIAA Second Team honors) and junior Sergio Villalba.
Senior Tobias Patino (2017 All-MIAA Second Team honors) and sophomore Mauricio Etcheverry headline the Tiger midfield. On the front, seniors Abdoulaye Cisse and Raul Fierro bring back a high-level of production (16 goals, 10 assists combined). Cisse earned All-MIAA First Team and All-Central Region First Team honors while Fierro earned All-MIAA Second Team and All-Central Region Second Team honors from last season.
FHSU vs McKendree Friday, August 31 7 p.m. McKendree leads the all-time series, 1-0
FHSU Soccer Stadium
McKendree used two late goals in the only matchup last season to defeat Fort Hays State. The Bearcats return six starters from last year, finishing the season 2-14 overall. Scott Gyllenborg enters his second full season as the head coach. Gonzalo Correa led the Bearcats with three goals in 2017.
FHSU at No. 3 Rockhurst Sunday, September 2 3:30 p.m. Rockhurst leads the all-time series, 2-0-2
Bourke Field
Rockhurst begins the 2018 campaign pegged as the Third-ranked team in the nation. The Hawks are coming off a 2017 season that ended in the national semifinals, falling to Lynn in a shootout. Rockhurst and Fort Hays State ended their matchup last year in a scoreless draw in Hays. The Hawks return 11 starters from a year ago, finishing the season 16-2-3 overall. Tony Tocco enters his 48th season as head coach of the Hawks, compiling a 696-187-73 record. Rocco ranks first on the all-time list among intercollegiate men’s soccer coaches.