By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
BETHANY, OKLA – Fort Hays State fell to No. 17 ranked Rogers State 2-1 in the GAC/MIAA Tournament semifinals on Thursday (Nov. 3). Down a goal at the half, the Tigers tied the match in the 56th minute only to see the Hillcats score another go-ahead goal about three minutes later. The Tigers moved to 8-5-6, while the Hillcats improved to 10-3-6 and moved on the GAC/MIAA Tournament championship on Sunday (Nov. 6).
Rogers State struck first when George Robinson collected the ball in the box and crossed it to the far post where Grant King flew in and timed a header perfectly into an open net in the 28th minute. The Tigers found the equalizer about 10 minutes into the second half. Jackson Elgas beat a defender on the right side of the box and crossed the ball to Tyler Lockhart in the center, who struck the ball past RSU keeper Declan Viljoen to knot up the match. RSU quickly answered as a shot from Sebastian Hernandez caused Kieran Brown to leave his feet on a save attempt, but the ball deflected off of the cross bar and landed in front of Robinson who headed it into an undefended net.
Rogers State finished with 26 shots and placed 11 on target, while Fort Hays State finished with nine shots and put four on goal. Brown collected nine saves between the posts for the Tigers compared to three by Viljoen.
The Tigers will await their fate for the NCAA Tournament during the tournament selection show on Monday (Nov. 7). The Tigers were ranked No. 10 in Super Region 3 entering Thursday’s match. Ten teams are selected to compete in the super region of the NCAA Tournament.