By FHSU Sports Information
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After being held shot-less by No. 17 UC-Colorado Springs in the first half, the Fort Hays State women’s soccer team captured the first goal of the match for either team as Cailey Perkins accounted for her second of the season. However, the lone Tiger goal would prove to fall short as the Mountain Lions increased the momentum late in the game to secure a 3-1 win over the Tigers. The loss drops Fort Hays State to 1-2 on the young season, while the No. 17 Mountain Lions jump to 2-1-1.
The Mountain Lions, who started out the season ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division II, had the edge over the Tigers, out-shooting them 9-0. While Fort Hays State never attempted a shot in the first 45 minutes, they relied on their anchor in goal in Megan Kneefel as she came through with five big saves, preventing the Mountain Lions from connecting on their attempts.
The second half started much of the same for the Mountain Lions, attempting two shots on goals within the first ten minutes. Kneefel was there yet again collecting the saves to keep the score even at 0-0. However, the Tigers first shot attempt of the match ended with an FHSU goal to take the 1-0 lead. In the 55th minute, Nikita Woods found Cailey Perkins on the left side five-yards out for Perkins’ second goal of the season and the first for either team in the contest.
In the 75th minute, UCCS finally turned a shot attempt into a goal as Tarah Patterson earned her first goal of the season after an assist from Fabioloa Estrada. This goal equalized the match at 1-1 late in the second half. Just five minutes later, Patterson struck again for the Mountain Lions on a solo shot past Kneefel in the 80th minute to put UCCS above the Tigers, 2-1. The Tigers let up again two minutes later as Amelia Junge recorded her first goal of the season through an assist off a redirected saved shot by Caitlin Esterle to extend the late Mountain Lion lead to 3-1. The Tigers would be unable to battle back in the remaining minutes as they fell to No. 17 UCCS for their second loss of the season.
The Mountain Lions controlled the Tigers in shots, out-shooting Fort Hays State 20-3 in the match, while holding the 13-2 advantage in shots on goal. Kaylyn Smith takes the win in the net for the Mountain Lions alongside one save in three shots faced. Although she was a strong anchor in goal for the Tigers, Kneefel takes the loss alongside 10 big saves in 20 shots faced.
The Tigers are back in action Sunday for another road game as they take on CSU-Pueblo at 1 p.m.