By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
After only playing 28 minutes Friday night before weather interfered, the Tigers were back in action on Sunday (Oct. 20) against Missouri Southern. The defense stood tall all afternoon and the offense put three goals on the board, as Fort Hays State ended the weekend with a 3-0 victory. The Tigers improved their record to 8-3-1 (4-1-1 MIAA), while the Lions fell to 2-11-2 (1-5-1 MIAA).
The Tigers tested goalkeeper Riley Laver (2-9-1) from opening kick. After putting nine shots on goal, Cailey Perkins was able to make the tenth shot in the 25th minute off assists from Darby Hirsch and Jenna Prince. Hirsch threaded a pass through to Jenna Prince near midfield, then Prince found Perkins ahead at the top of the box where she rifled in her third goal of the year. Fort Hays put six more shots on goal, while the defense only allowed three shots before ending the first half with a 1-0 lead.
The second half was exactly like the first as the wind shifted around and favored the Tigers once again. After five more shots, Perkins scored her second of the day and her fourth of the year in the 62nd minute. Off a corner kick, Darby Hirsch crossed the ball into the box and Perkins headed it past Laver to double the lead. Hirsch also picked up her second assist of the day on that goal. Sophomore defender Karli Potts checked into the match following the second goal from Perkins. Six minutes later, she was able to find the back of the net for her first career goal. Potts capitalized on MSSU’s inability to clear the ball, and she cashed in on a loose ball chance in front of the net to put the Tigers up 3-0. Following another great defensive performance from the back line and senior goalkeeper Megan Kneefel (7-2-1), the Tigers closed out their eighth victory of the year and seventh shutout of the 2019 campagin.
The offense came alive in this match as the Tigers attempted 24 shots throughout the 90 minutes with 12 on goal. Nine different Tigers were able to put pressure on the Lion’s back line with shot attempts. Perkins led the team with 5 shots (4 on goal) and Hirsch followed with four shots and one on goal.
The Tiger defense was a brick wall, allowing just four shots and one on goal to Missouri Southern. Kneefel recorded her 15th career shutout, placing her in a tie for second place all-time with Abbie Flax (2014-16) for career shutouts. Darby Hirsch also made a mark in the record books on the first goal of the match. She picked up career assists 16 and 17 and now owns the record for most career assists in the FHSU women’s program history.
The Tigers continue their home stand with another match Friday night (Oct. 25) against the Hillcats of Rogers State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at FHSU Soccer Stadium.