By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The 2021 Fort Hays State women’s soccer season came to close at Central Missouri on Sunday (Nov. 7) in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals with a 3-2 overtime loss. The No. 1 seeded Jennies built a 2-0 lead early in the second half, but the No. 8 seeded Tigers rallied with a late flurry of goals in regulation to force extra time. However, the Jennies found the golden goal just over two minutes into overtime.
The Jennies were very aggressive on offense in the first half with 16 shots compared to only one by the Tigers. However, the Jennies were only able to net one goal with about two minutes remaining in the first half. The Jennies added another goal just a few minutes into the second half.
The Tigers would not go away without a fight as they put together a furious rally late to shock the Jennies. Senior Jordan Thompson would provide two strikes of magic in the game’s final five minutes. With only 4:15 remaining in regulation, she dribbled to open space and fired a rocket from about 30 yards out into the upper portion of the net out of the reach of the UCM goalkeeper. The goal sparked the Tigers to keep applying the frantic pressure and they drew a foul outside the top of the UCM box with about two minutes to play. Moments later, senior Cailey Perkins delivered a perfect low pass into the box on her free kick that found a cutting Thompson who redirected the ball past the keeper for another score.
However, the late-game magic from the Tigers ran out just over two minutes into overtime. UCM placed a corner kick into the box and the Tigers had trouble clearing a loose ball that had bounced around between a few players. The ball found the foot of Ashleigh Martin who ended the match with a strike into the upper part of the net.
The Jennies had 20 shots overall in the match and the Tigers finished with six. Senior goalkeeper Deonna Wellbrock posted seven saves in her final match between the pipes.
The Tigers finished their season at 8-8-3 overall. The Jennies, ranked No. 11 nationally, improved to 16-2-1 overall and will host the remainder of the MIAA Tournament next weekend.