By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The 23rd-ranked Fort Hays State women’s soccer team played to a 1-1 draw with 5th-ranked Central Missouri on Sunday (Oct. 16) at FHSU Soccer Stadium. The Jennies scored first in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Tigers were able to find the equalizer to stay unbeaten on the season. FHSU moved to 9-0-7 overall, 4-0-5 in the MIAA, while UCM collected their first tie in conference play and moved to 13-1-2 overall, 7-1-1 in the MIAA.
The wind played a big factor in this match with only three total shots taken in the first half. The Jennies took all three with the wind at their back as the Tigers struggled to find the attacking side of the field.
The Jennies struck first in the second half when a Tiger pass fell short of its mark. Madilyn Hamline intercepted it just in front of keeper Isabel Robben out near the top of the box and easily took the ball to the net with no defenders remaining in the 51st minute. Fort Hays State found the equalizer in the 65th minute when a corner kick from Sullivan Kelly found Jadyn Newell in the box who glanced it forward to Katie Puchino as she side-stepped the ball past the keeper just in front of the goal line.
The Tigers finished with nine shots, all in the second half, compared to eight by the Jennies. Robben of FHSU and Sydney Beck of UCM each grabbed four saves in the match.
The Tigers will wrap up the regular season next week as they head to Topeka on Friday (Oct. 21) to take on Washburn before returning home to host Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday (Oct. 23) for Senior Day.
Friday
The 23rd ranked Fort Hays State women’s soccer team defeated Missouri Southern 5-0 at FHSU Soccer Stadium on Friday (Oct. 14). The Tigers scored once in the first half before a second half scoring explosion netting four goals in 22 minutes. It was the 10th shutout for the Tigers this season. FHSU improved to 9-0-6, 4-0-4 MIAA, while Missouri Southern fell to 1-12-1, 1-6-1 MIAA.
The Tigers set the tone immediately as a corner kick was bounced around in front of the net before Hannah Maresstruck the ball past the keeper in the second minute. The Tigers led 1-0 entering the break, but Mares was quick to find the net for a second time in the second half. In the 48thminute, the Tigers placed the ball in front of the net on another corner kick and the junior forward pushed her way into the pile to chip the ball past the keeper for her second goal of the match and sixth of the season.
Sullivan Kelly continued the scoring for the Tigers as she netted a pair of goals in a five-minute span. The first came in the 53rd minute on a throw in by Emily Hutchings, which glanced an MSSU defender and landed perfectly for Kelly who drove the ball into the net. The second came on a perfectly struck ball from about 25 yards out that sailed perfectly over the keeper’s reach and into the top left corner of the goal to give FHSU a 4-0 lead in the 58thminute. The final Tiger score came on another corner kick in the 71st minute as Gracen Chaney bent the ball perfectly over the Lions’ defense and Reilly Madden headed it into the net for her second goal of the season.
With the five goals, the Tigers tied their fifth-highest scoring output in a match in program history and also their highest score in a conference match, the last instance ending 5-1 against Nebraska-Kearney back in 2012. This match also eclipsed the largest margin of victory in a conference match for the Tigers. FHSU finished with 17 shots and put 11 on target compared to six shots by MSSU with one on goal. Isabel Robben nabbed a save between the posts, while Lilly Doneghue grabbed five saves for Missouri Southern.