By CAYDEN SANDERS
Tiger Media Network
After a tie and a loss in their MIAA opening weekend, FHSU women’s soccer (2-4-1, 0-2) is looking ahead to No. 10 Central Missouri (4-2-2, 1-0-1) and Emporia State (5-2, 2-0) this weekend.
“We know it’s gonna be probably one of the more physical weekends of the season, and we’ve got really good teams ahead, but the first is No. 10 Central Missouri,” FHSU Head Coach Tyson John said. “They both are always a really good team. So we need to come out and play perfect because they play perfect. So we need to come out and execute. We’ve been working on stuff this week, and our hope is now that we can make that transcend into the game.”
Preparing for the weekend, the Tigers had to look at their last game as they were outshot by Pitt State 17-0. FHSU looks to turn its defense into offense this weekend.
“We had simple mistakes and just misunderstood our system,” John said. “We went through a study session today before training, and they got every question right. We know what to do, and now it’s just going to go out there and implement it this weekend.”
FHSU and UCM play tonight, while the Tigers and Hornets will square off on Sunday. UCM is a formidable opponent, with its two losses coming to No. 2 Minnesota State-Mankato and No. 3 Grand Valley State. Emporia State also has two losses at the hands of two ranked teams in the first weekend of the season.
“We really just have to focus, do what we can. We trained really well this week; it is all about staying healthy,” freshman goalkeeper Hadley Ostrander said. “I hope that we can play as a team this weekend, and we come away with a win.”
John commented on his freshman goalkeeper’s performance so far.
“It’s hard to pick up responsibility as a freshman at this level, being able to get this many minutes like she has,” he said. “We have other goalkeepers that are challenging her for the spot. We’re always going to go with who we feel is best on the day, and so far, it’s been her.”
Ostrander feels that she stepped into big shoes to fill after the Tigers lost graduate student goalkeeper Mackenzie Caldwell to graduation last season.
“It was a little stressful because I’m a freshman stepping into the shoes of a graduate student from last year, and if I make a mistake, there is nobody behind me,” she said. “It’s really just keeping our mindsets positive and relying on my teammates to help me when I need them.”
The Tigers will play the Jennies at 7 p.m. tonight in Warrensburg, Missouri and Emporia State at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Emporia.
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