By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer had two players named to the All-Tournament Team for the NCAA Division II Championships following completion of the tournament this past weekend. Raul Fierro, senior defender, and Alonso Rodriguez, freshman forward, earned the honors.
Fierro had a great senior season as a defender with the Tigers. He earned All-MIAA First Team honors this year and was a two-time All-MIAA selection overall. He was also an All-Central Region Team selection by both the United Soccer Coaches Association and D2CCA this year. Fierro helped the Tigers play to a scoreless tie with Barry University (Fla.) in the national semifinal match before an eight-round penalty kick shootout eliminated the Tigers.
Rodriguez provided a late-season surge in offense for the Tigers after the national leader in scoring, Santiago Agudelo, went down with an injury in the Central Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament. Rodriguez was the spark that kept the Tigers alive in their quest to the NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh as he scored both the game-tying and game-winning goals in a 3-1 win over Northeastern State. In the national semifinal match against Barry, he led the team in shots on goal with three.
Fort Hays State finished its 2018 season at 17-2-2 overall, setting a new program record for wins in a season. The Tigers finished the season on a 16-match unbeaten streak, bookended by a pair of ties. FHSU entered the national semifinal match on a 14-match win streak.
Below is the All-Tournament Team for the NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh.
2018 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer All-Tournament Team
Eduardo Faria, Cal Poly Pomona
Nadeer Ghantous, Cal Poly Pomona
Raul Fierro, Fort Hays State
Alonso Rodriguez, Fort Hays State
Kyle Hoops, West Chester
Jason Pixley, West Chester
Andrew Slater, West Chester
James Kirkham, Barry
Marco Sordi, Barry
Francisco Greco, Barry (Most Outstanding Player – Offense)
Stephen Kosmala, Barry (Most Outstanding Player – Defense)