BY CAYDEN SANDERS
The Fort Hays State University women’s soccer team is ready to start their season this week. The team had a busy off-season as Blake Reynolds stepped down from his position as head coach However, Tyson John is now running the women’s soccer program.
“The team has had a lot of changes; we have 12 returners and 12 new players to the team,” John said. “I think we’ve done as well as a team with only having two weeks to be together. The season will be unforgiving, so we know that next week, it’s gonna be very important that we get a little bit further in that progression.”
The team has only had a short time to play together, but John is hopeful the team will mesh together as crucial team pieces are spread out across the field. Junior forward and transfer Hannah Mares comes to the team from Division I Valparaiso. Last season at Valpo, Mares played in 17 games and started 11. In the midfield, the Tigers will use Emily Hutchings, who was an all-MIAA second-team midfielder last season and led the team with five assists.
In the defensive line, senior Reilly Madden is a player to watch for. She competed in all 19 games a season ago and played all 90 minutes in all but two games. She helped the team to nine clean sheets last year, earning all-MIAA third-team honors.
Last Saturday the Tigers played against FC Wichita for their home scrimmage this season.
They used the game to work through formations that fit the team the best. By the end of the scrimmage Coach John decided to have the formation be a 3-5-2.
This formation gives the Tigers three defenders, five midfielders, and two strikers. Having three defenders allowed the Tigers to crowd the middle of the field but allowed the midfielders to play in the defensive line as well.
“We played four people in the back three today. And that’s our second clean sheet, you know, the in the fall and preseason. So, I can’t ask for much more than that for us. I think we limited them to one or two chances throughout the match. So yeah, I was very happy with our defense so far.” John said.
The Tigers are on the road to start the season in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. On Friday, FHSU will play the University of Sioux Falls and tilt against Augustana on Sunday. Their first home game will be at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 3 at FHSU Soccer Stadium.