By CAYDEN SANDERS
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After back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in his first two seasons at the helm of the Fort Hays State women’s soccer program, Head Coach Tyson John looks to get back to the postseason for the third year in a row.
“Right now, we are seeking a championship,” John said. “We have been really close the last two years, and it’s nice to have the 2022 and 2023 seasons on the board, but I want 2024 and I want in a few extra places.”
After being selected third in the preseason MIAA polls, FHSU looks to take the regular season and tournament championships along with the NCAA Tournament at the end of the season.
While the goal is to add to the program’s acomplisments this season. John will rely on the program’s “blue-collar mentality” along with the incoming transfers in the program.
“It’s good old work ethic; this team has always been a blue-collar team,” he said. “We have added some very white-collar qualities to our technique and our tactics, but we need to figure out how to put it together.”
During the offseason, the Tigers were busy finding players. The team added 13 new players to the program – six out of the transfer portal and five freshmen.
With preseason workouts underway, the team has identified what they need to work on.
“This is a big senior class, some of them I may not have recruited but have played for me these last two years,” John said. “The program has been building up at this point, and that has been the most challenging part, but now it is getting across the finish line.”
Although the collegiate season was over after November, many Tigers opted into summer workouts. For a couple of players, they played professionally in the Women’s United Professional Soccer League “WUPSL.”
Tyson believes those experiences will benefit the squad going forward.
“Two of our transfers played in the national semifinals and a championship game. Transfers that have played in D1 played for winning teams that were winning 13 to 15 matches, which is hard to do in any division. I have had players that have played for two seasons under me and that is all crucial experience in building this year’s team,” John stated.
FHSU will rely on seasoned veterans such as senior defender Emily Hutchings to help new players with the program’s early season conditioning.
“My job as a captain is to make sure that this team gets along well, and we have so far, I feel that it is my job to be there for the girls that need help, and be there for them as we get back into the swing of the season,” Hutchings said.
Prior to FHSU’s season opener, the Tigers will play exhibition games to fully prepare.
“We have a couple of practices with a sprinkle of exhibition games in our preseason. I think that will help us determine where to go from there as we get ready for the season in the following days ahead,” John said,
FHSU will open their season at home against CSU-Puebolo at 7:00 pm on Sept. 5 at FHSU Soccer Stadium.