By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Women’s Soccer was tabbed fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, released on Friday (Aug. 11). The Tigers are coming off a strong 2022 campaign when they went 11-3-7 overall and made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2016. It was also the program’s first season under head coach Tyson John, who enters his second year guiding the Tigers in 2023.
The Tigers were picked where they finished in the conference standings last year. In fact, the preseason poll is nearly a carbon copy of the order finish last year. The only difference is Nebraska-Kearney is picked 11th and Newman is picked 12th. The first 10 are in the same position they finished last year. Central Missouri headed the poll with nine first-place votes, while Emporia State was second and had two first-place votes and Northwest Missouri State was third and had a single first-place vote.
Fort Hays State was one of the top defensive teams in NCAA Division II last year, allowing only 0.71 goals per match. The Tigers netted 12 shutouts, which tied the program record for most in a season joining the 2016 squad. The Tigers return seven of their nine All-MIAA selections from a year ago, led by first-team selection Reilly Madden (defender) and second-team selections Isabel Robben (goalkeeper) and Hannah Mares (forward). Emily Hutchings and Sullivan Kelly were third-team selections, while Britney Arneson and Ryan McCabe were honorable mention picks.
Fort Hays State set new program records in 2022 for fewest losses in a season (3) and most ties in a season (7). The uptick in ties was likely aided with the NCAA eliminating overtime in regular season matches as the Tigers broke their old record by three in that column. FHSU briefly enjoyed a two-week stint in the national rankings last year, with their high mark at No. 22 in the October 18 edition of the United Soccer Coaches Poll. It was their first appearance in the Top 25 since 2017.
Below is the 2023 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
1. Central Missouri (9) – 119 points
2. Emporia State (2) – 109 points
3. Northwest Missouri (1) – 103 points
4. Fort Hays State – 87 points
5. Central Oklahoma – 85 points
6. Washburn – 66 points
7. Northeastern State – 60 points
8. Missouri Western – 51 points
9. Rogers State – 40 points
10. Missouri Southern – 25 points
11. Nebraska Kearney – 22 points
12. Newman – 18 points