By HAILEY CHAPMAN
The Fort Hays State women’s soccer team opened their 2019 season with a split in South Dakota.
In Game 1, the Tigers were held scoreless by Augustana, 2-0. The Vikings were quick to put pressure on the Tiger defense, putting up six shots in the first half but only scoring one. Throughout the game, Augustana put up 19 shots to FHSU’s 9, with 10 shots on goal. The Tigers were only able to pull out six shots on goal of their 10 attempts.
Senior goalkeeper Megan Kneefel was able to pull out eight saves on the day, besting Augustana goalkeepers’ six. Late in the game, the Vikings were able to score their second goal to secure a 2-0 victory.
In Game 2, the Tigers were able to turn the adversity around and earned a 1-0 victory over Sioux Falls. Senior Darby Hirsch was able to sink the game deciding goal with an assist from Cailey Perkins.
Fort Hays’ defense came out stronger than their previous game, allowing only three shots to be taken. Deonna Wellbrock was able to keep all three shots from reaching the goal, earning her first shutout and the team’s first victory of the year.
Up next, the Tigers will face CSU-Pueblo in their home opener Sept. 13.
Tiger volleyball goes 3-1 in Eagle Classic
The Tiger volleyball team opened their season during the weekend in the Eagle Classic hosted by Chadron State in Nebraska.
The team struggled to find its stride in Game 1, dropping three consecutive sets (25-16, 25-22, 25-16) to Sioux Falls. Morgan West led the Tigers with eight kills, followed by Isabelle Reynolds with six. Morgan Christiansen was able to post four blocks, and Katie Darnell added 23 assists.
In Game 2, Fort Hays faced the home team Chadron State and fell again in three consecutive sets (25-21, 25-14, 25-23). West led the team again with nine kills, while Delaney Humm and Kayla Vitztum added seven each. Darnell added 23 assists, but received support from Haley McCorkle towards the end of the match.
In their third game, the Tigers outhit Montana State Billings 46-32, but 18 attack errors and 10 service errors made the difference. Humm reached the top of the ranks with 14 kills. Abbie Hayes made a strong defensive performance with 11 digs to keep her team alive, but ultimately the Yellowjackets outlasted the Tigers (26-24, 25-22, 25-17).
Fort Hays was finally able to find its groove in a 3-2 win over South Dakota School of Mines. Junior Tatum Bartels and Humm both dominated the Tiger offense with 22 kills each, both career-highs. Hayes (18) and Madison Miller (13) posted double digits on the Tiger defense in digs. The team was able to fight their way to the fifth set, where they won by two points. Humm posted all three match-ending kills for the Tigers in her freshman debut tournament.
Fort Hays will host the Tiger Classic this weekend in Gross Memorial Coliseum. Chadron State, Southern Arkansas, Western Colorado and Northwestern Oklahoma State will travel to compete this weekend.
Men’s soccer splits first two games of season
The No. 3-ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team opened the season with a pair of games Thursday and Sunday.
The Tigers have returned eight notable players heading into the 2019 season.
The season opener was against Rockhurst, where the Tigers shutout the Hawks 3-0. Joey McCain scored the first goal on the day. Sergio Villalba followed with one goal in the 49th minute of play. Alonso Rodriguez scored the team’s final goal in the 75th minute to secure the victory with an assist from McCain. The Tigers out shot the Hawks 23-13, with 11 shots on goal.
The next game gave more adversity to the Tigers against Eastern New Mexico University. Fort Hays was shut out 1-0, unable to sink the game tying shot. Santiago Agudelo led the Tiger offense with three shots, two on goal, followed by Arsenio Chamorro, Ross Boyd and Moritz Walther all with two.
The loss to the Greyhounds ended a 13-game regular-season win streak the Tigers started in 2018. After senior forward Agudelo was given a yellow card, Fort Hays showed a more timid side and could not cut the deficit.
The Tigers were outshot 12-11, including 9-5 on goal. Cullen Fisch provided five saves within the game, matched by the Greyhound goalkeeper to secure the win for ENMU.
The Tigers are back in action Wednesday against Maryville University in Kansas City, Mo.