By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
INDIANAPOLIS – Fort Hays State Women’s Soccer will be making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2016 this week. The Tigers were selected as the No. 5 seed in the Central Regional of the NCAA Tournament, set to begin on Friday (Nov. 11). FHSU will take on conference rival Emporia State, which received the No. 4 seed, in the opening round, at 10 a.m.
The first two rounds of the tournament are hosted by the region’s top two seeds, which for the Central Regional is No. 1 Central Missouri and No. 2 Bemidji State (Minn.). The Tigers make a return trip to Warrensburg, Mo. this week where they will face Emporia State. The winner will move on to face either No. 1 seed Central Missouri or No. 8 seed Southwestern Oklahoma State in the second round on Sunday.
Fort Hays State was one of five at-large selections in the Central Regional, with three automatic bids going to conference tournament champions. The MIAA has five teams competing in the Central Regional, along with two from the NSIC and one from the GAC.
This will be the third appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the FHSU women. They made a run to the Round of 16 during the 2016 season, and made an opening-round appearance in 2012 just a year after the program began in 2011.
Fort Hays State and Emporia State played to a pair of draws in their regular season meetings this year, 1-1 in Emporia and 2-2 in Hays. For postseason, if matches are tied at the end of regulation, the teams have to play out the entirety of two 10-minute overtime periods. If the score is tied at the end of the extra 20 minutes of action, a penalty-kick shootout determines the team advancing in the bracket.
Below is the schedule for the first two rounds of the Central Regional.
Warrensburg, Mo.
#4 Emporia State vs. #5 Fort Hays State – Friday, 10 AM
#1 Central Missouri vs. #8 Southwestern Oklahoma State – Friday, 1 PM
Winner of ESU/FHSU vs. Winner of UCM vs. SWOSU – Sunday, 1 PM
Bemidji, Minn.
#3 Minnesota State vs. #6 Northwest Missouri State – Friday, 12 PM
#2 Bemidji State vs. #7 Central Oklahoma – Friday, 3 PM
Winner of MSU/NWMSU vs. Winner of BSU/UCO – Sunday, 3 PM
Highest seed remaining from the two regional sites this weekend will host the following weekend for the Round of 16 and National Quarterfinals, which will involve the Midwest region.