By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
INDIANAPOLIS – Fort Hays State Women’s Soccer is among the 10 teams listed in the first release of NCAA Region Rankings on Wednesday (Oct. 19). For the first release of region rankings, the NCAA is listing its top 10 teams by region alphabetically currently being considered for selection to the NCAA Tournament. The list of 10 teams can change week to week as more results affect the formulas for consideration.
Fort Hays State is in good shape at this point, remaining unbeaten through 16 games this season at 9-0-7 overall. According to the report for the Central Region located at the bottom of the region rankings page on NCAA.com, Fort Hays State has the fifth-best In-Region RPI and fourth-best Division II Performance Indicator value in the Central Region. Central Missouri owns the highest in-region RPI and performance indicator. Fort Hays State is seeking its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since the 2016 season, when it made a run all the way to the Central Region Final (Round of 16).
Eight teams from the Central Region will be selected to compete in the Central Regional of the NCAA Tournament following the conclusion of conference tournaments. The region consists of teams from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and Great American Conference. Champions from each of the three conference tournaments within the region will receive automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.
The MIAA has seven teams listed among the 10 in the region rankings as it stands right now, and the other three are from the NSIC. Though the GAC does not have a school in the top ten right now, one of its members will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by virtue of winning the conference tournament. Fort Hays State is 2-0-6 against the teams currently listed in the Central Region rankings.
Region rankings released by United Soccer Coaches on a weekly basis up to this point have no bearing on NCAA Region Rankings. The NCAA Region Rankings are the only set of rankings used for national tournament consideration.
Below is the list of 10 teams currently being considered in the Central Region.
| Teams | Division II Record | In-Region Record |
| Augustana (S.D.) | 7-6-2 | 7-6-2 |
| Bemidji State | 9-1-4 | 9-1-4 |
| Central Missouri | 13-1-2 | 13-1-2 |
| Central Oklahoma | 11-2-3 | 11-2-3 |
| Emporia State | 7-5-4 | 7-5-4 |
| Fort Hays State | 9-0-7 | 9-0-7 |
| Minnesota State | 10-1-4 | 10-1-4 |
| Northeastern State | 5-3-8 | 5-3-8 |
| Northwest Missouri State | 10-4-2 | 10-4-2 |
| Washburn | 10-4-2 | 10-4-2 |