Story by MAYAN PAZ Photos by KATIE KUHLMAN
Tiger Media Network
Recreating the 2024 GAC final matchup – a 2-1 win for the Tigers – and after FHSU won on the road against Southern Nazarene earlier in the season, Fort Hays State (11-0-3, 7-0-1) started Thursday’s game against SNU with a lot of energy, testing Crimson Storm goalkeeper, Aimar Aramendia, over and over again. Aramendia, in a terrific display, was up for the challenge and deflected the home side’s efforts.
FHSU totalled 16 shots in the game, with 4 on frame, while SNU (5-5-3, 3-3-2) only managed 4 shots, with 2 on goal. Aramendia had 4 saves in the contest.
Felix Tellez Ramirez welcomes the players onto the field. 
FHSU starts the game off with a team huddle. 
FHSU makes a play into the box 
Mamadou Oumar Ndiaye dribbles the ball down the field. 
Nicholas Di Meo attempts to score a goal. 
Mamadou Oumar Ndiaye kicks the ball to his teammate. 
Dimitry Tchantcheu kicks the ball to keep it in play. 
Jackson Elgas headbutts the ball to pass it to his teammate. 
Mamadou Oumar Ndiaye rests before the next play. 
Juan Linares enters the ball from the corner 
Joseph Street throws the ball in for FHSU 
Tadhg Walsh moves the ball down the field. 
Juan Linares heads the ball for FHSU. 
Elias Ovelar Semeniuk controls the ball for FHSU 
Tonnes Daland prepares to throw in for FHSU 
Marcus Dalseide collides with an SNU player 
Elias Ovelar Semeniuk moves the ball downfield. 
Tadhg Walsh prepares for a free kick. 
Bastian Carlman leaps for a header against the SNU keeper.
SNU’s players gained confidence from their success on the defensive side and started making threats towards the FHSU goal as well. In an unfamiliar situation, the Tigers found themselves with their back to the wall, trying to hold off repetitive quick counterattacks from SNU.
FHSU Head Coach Alex Nichols spoke about his players’ performance.
“I didn’t think that anyone necessarily played badly, but no one played great either. It was one of those days when no one was great,” Nichols said. “I thought that both our coaches and our players didn’t have a bad day, but also not a good day, and we were unable to create the things we wanted to create.”
Harrison Bensouda and Oumar Ndiaye led the defensive efforts of the Tigers, and Bastian Carlman created the most dangerous chance for the Tigers on the offense ahead of the halftime break, striking a shot from outside the box, which was just wide of the target.
In the second half, both teams kept a similar play to the first half, as SNU closed its box and didn’t allow any breathing room for the Tigers, while trying to go on counterattacks. Bensouda and goalkeeper Peyton Roehrich kept the Tigers in play, providing several important stops for FHSU. Offensively, it was Carlman who had two header chances in the second half, but neither was on target.
This is the first point the Tigers have dropped in GAC play. However, FHSU still remains at the top of the conference standings, 5 points ahead of Rogers State. The Tigers will face Rogers State on Saturday, and a win will give them an 8-point lead at the top of the standings, with only 9 points left to play for, effectively clinching the first seed of the regular season.
Nichols was asked after Thursday’s draw if it was perhaps a positive to drop a point early enough in the season and not against a direct opponent for the first seed, as the Tigers can have the time to redirect their focus towards the rest of the season.
“That is exactly what we discussed with the team after the game. We know we dropped the point, but it’s all about how we respond and bounce back from that,” he said. “We have a difficult game against Rogers State on Saturday, and we will have to focus and bounce back against them.”
The nationally-ranked No. 5 Tigers will face No.17 Rogers State (9-1-4, 5-1-2) at 1 p.m. on Saturday at FHSU Soccer Stadium for their final home game of the regular season.