Story by CAYDEN SANDERS Photos by RORY MOORE
Tiger Media Network
Facing a more than familiar foe, the Fort Hays State men’s soccer team had just one game standing between them and the NCAA DII national semifinals. In FHSU’s way, the Rogers State Hillcats – a team the Tigers had played three previous times this year. On Saturday, the unbeaten Tigers replicated their earlier season results, prevailing 4-0 to keep their historic season alive.
“We had to face a tough team today, Rogers State hasn’t lost a game, except for to us, we have
respect for them, just a quality team. They really get after it,” FHSU Head Coach Alex Nichols said. “We played good, not great. There are things to still work on before Colorado Springs.”
It didn’t take long for the Tigers (20-0-3) to register a goal when FHSU scored off a corner kick in the 8th minute when sophomore defender Mario Leal Vales scored off an assist from senior midfielder Tadhg Walsh.
“I’m here to help the team, help the coaches, help my teammates. For me, it’s awesome to score a goal, because it helps all of us,” Leal Vales said. “We have another two games if we want to be the national champions. So let’s keep our minds on the next game.”
RSU and FHSU played evenly for the remainder of the first half and midway through the second period. But in the 68th minute, freshman forward Marcus Dalseide stole a pass from RSU goalkeeper Jaxon Kendall to score the 2nd goal of the match and his 2nd as a Tiger.
The final two goals, both scored by sophomore forward Bastian Carlman in the 79th and 82nd minutes of the match, were good for his 8th and 9th goals of the season. Carlman’s career total moves to 17 goals.
FHSU freshman goalkeeper Payton Roehrich made a crucial save in the 28th minute on a penalty kick to keep the Hillcats off the board. FHSU stopped 2/4 penalty kicks this season.
“I knew I kind of messed up. I hit the ball down the middle and, you know, obviously that part wasn’t my fault, but no one’s fault was the handball to get a penalty kick,” Roehrich said. “It’s just luck, I know I had to make up for it and make a big save. That’s what I did, and it’s the best I can do, just keep my team in this game.”
Rogers State ends its season at 14-4-5 overall, with all four defeats coming at the hands of the Tigers. In the season series, FHSU outscored RSU 11-1, with the only goal that was given up coming in the Great American Conference Championship match at FHSU Soccer Stadium.
For Senior Jackson Elgas, this moment was bittersweet as this was his final match at FHSU Soccer Stadium. The Tigers were 12-0-2 at home this year.
“Definitely bittersweet, because I have played a lot of games here. I love this place, but it was definitely a great opportunity to finish my career here at Hays strong,” Elgas said. “We have a little bit to enjoy, and then this week we’ll get right back to it, and we’re hoping to do the same thing that we did today in the next two games and bring home a national championship.”
The NCAA reseeds the four semifinal teams, and FHSU was awarded the No. 1 seed and will play No. 4 Rollins (Fla.) on Friday afternoon in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is the Tigers’ second time making the national semifinals. In 2018, FHSU was the No. 1 seed and dropped its semifinal match to Barry (Fla.) in penalty kicks. Barry went on to win the national championship.
“When you have guys like this, you believe they can achieve everything,” Nichols said. “It’s a constant grind. It’s a constant attention to detail and discipline and confidence, humble confidence within this group. I am just happy for the guys, and I hope we get the job done.”
First touch between FHSU and Rollins (13-4-5) is set for 4 p.m. CST on Friday at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.