By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
WICHITA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State women’s soccer team fell just short in the MIAA Tournament semifinals to No. 15 Central Missouri by a score of 1-0 on Thursday (Nov. 9) at the Stryker Sports Complex. The loss dropped the Tiger’s record to 13-4-3, while the Jennies improved to 15-3-2 and advance to the conference tournament championship match on Saturday (Nov. 11).
Thursday’s match was the second meeting between the two teams this season. The Jennies won the first meeting 3-0 back on October 22 in Warrensburg, Mo.
Each team had minimal open chances at goal opportunities throughout the entire match on Thursday. Both goalkeepers worked hard early on, saving everything that came their way. The Jennies outshot the Tigers 6-3 in the first period of the match. UCM recorded the first four shots of the match, all within the first 22 minutes. Fort Hays State relied heavily on forward Allison Worley in the first period. Worley took all three of the team’s shots in the first frame of play, but all three were saved by UCM goalie Kristen Wright.
Central Missouri found the back of the net in the 38′ after Lexi Ruf sent a kick near the goal which appeared off-target but took a last-second turn and ricocheted off the sidebar and into the net to put the Jennies up 1-0. From there, Central Missouri took to the defensive and aimed to preserve the lead.
The Tigers had only been shut out on three occasions this season before Thursday’s match. Fort Hays State was only able to fire one shot in the second period when Jersey Garoutte attempted one just moments into the period.
Keeper Isabel Robben had three saves on the day with two in the first period and one in the second, but the goal by the Jennies in the 38′ was all they needed to take down the No. 3 seeded Tigers.
Central Missouri is set to play the Hornets of Emporia State for the tournament title match on Sunday (Nov. 11) at 8 p.m. in Wichita, Kan.
The Tigers will now wait to see where they land for the NCAA National Tournament. The first round of the tournament is set for Thursday (Nov. 16) at a location that is still yet to be determined.