Tiger draw with Vikings

By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The FHSU women’s soccer team wrapped up their season-opening road trip to South Dakota with a 1-1 draw against Augustana on Sunday (Aug. 28). Each squad scored in the first half. The Tigers moved to 1-0-1 on the year and the Vikings open their season 0-0-1.

Augustana jumped on the board early as a shot from the top of the box found its way past a diving Isabel Robben in the fifth minute. Fort Hays State came up with the equalizer in the 29th minute. Hannah Mares was fouled inside the box, setting up a penalty kick, She then tucked the ball just between the post and the diving Augustana keeper to score her second goal of the season and tie the match.

In the second half, the Vikings took one more shot than the Tigers (3-2) and put all three shots on target. Both squads had opportunities to break the tie, but neither could find the game-winner. In the past overtime was part of regular season contests, but an offseason rule change in the NCAA did away with overtime until postseason play.

Both teams took eight shots, but Augustana managed to put one more on target (5-4). Both defenses held their own as Robben collected four saves compared to three by AU keeper Jillian Barkus. Fort Hays State will be back in action next week as they host Wayne State (Sep. 3) and Northwestern Oklahoma State (Sep. 5) in Hays.

Friday

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – FHSU Women’s Soccer started its 2022 season in dominating fashion as they defeated Sioux Falls 2-0 on Friday (Aug. 26). After a scoreless first half, the Tigers netted a pair of goals within an eight-minute span in the second half. FHSU begins the year 1-0, while USF fell to 0-1.

The Tiger offense went to work early as they put three of their four shots on target in the first half, but they were unable to find the net before the break. The FHSU defense held USF at arm’s length not allowing any shots in the first half.

The first score of the match came when Carly Walker intercepted a Cougar pass near the box and passed it to Hannah Mares who spun away from a defender and shot the ball past the keeper in the 51^st minute. The Tigers sealed the match when a corner kick from Gracen Chaney was expertly picked out of the air by Britney Arneson in the box during the 58^th minute for her first score as a Tiger.

The Tigers took 10 shots overall and put six on target, while the Cougars managed to put their lone shot on target late in the second half. FHSU keeper Isabel Robben played the first 78 minutes in goal and picked up the win before yielding to Maddie Meehan who closed out the final 12 minutes and recorded one save. USF keeper Caroline Titze had four saves in the match.