Story by CAYDEN SANDERS Photos by RORY MOORE and TMN Staff
Tiger Media Network
There are only four teams left standing in the whole of NCAA DII men’s soccer – and Fort Hays State is one of them. The Tigers (20-0-3) enter Friday’s national semifinals as the No. 1 remaining seed and will play for the opportunity to advance to the national championship when they face No. 4 remaining seed Rollins University (Fla.) at 4 p.m. in Colorado Springs. The Tars (13-4-5) advanced out of Super Region II.
“They’re a good team. They’re coming out of a really good soccer region. Whoever comes out of that region is going to be good,” FHSU head coach Alex Nichols said. “We have a lot of respect for them. They’re a really good team. They’re strong, they’re athletic, they’re organized, and they have good soccer players. They are well coached.”
Senior midfielder Joseph Street grew up 15 minutes away from Rollins University in Oviedo, Florida. He was recruited by the Tars and has friends playing on the team.
“I know a couple of guys from the team, and we are all friends,” Street said. “When I went on my visit here, they came with me to see what it was like, and then when I committed, we talked about how we can play against each other, and it was the final four. So we have definitely completed that goal.”
Rollins has played a challenging schedule to reach this point, defeating then-No. 3 Palm Beach Atlantic in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament semifinals before falling in the SSC title game. The Tars went on the road in the first round of the NCAA tournament, defeating West Florida 2-1 before hosting a pair of games at home, defeating Flagler College 2-0 and Mississippi College 5-1 to advance to the national semis.
Junior forward Elias Ovelar Semeniuk leads the Tigers with 15 goals this season – a mark that is tied for 2nd nationally. He said FHSU has prepared for the game, and is ready to continue the team’s journey.
“We are prepared for the game,” Ovelar Semeniuk said. “So, I think, it is an important part of our journey. We are near our final goal, which is being national champions. We will go in humbly as always, and we are ready to do our job and make it ours.”
Fort Hays has advanced to the national semifinals once before, in 2018. The Tigers were seeded as the No. 1 team, but fell to eventual national champion Barry (Fla.) in penalty kicks. Barry also advanced from the SSC that season.
First touch between the Tigers and Tars is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Those unable to join the team in Colorado can watch for free here. There will also be a watch party in the Robbins Center on campus.
TMN’s Kyson Evans will be in Colorado Springs, providing coverage on Tiger Media Network.
Familial connections power Tigers
When the season started five months ago, most of the team did not know each other, and had never played together. By this point in the season, the Tigers are playing for one another while chasing the national title.
Instead of distractions and setbacks, the team dove into getting to know each other and holding themselves to a high standard.
“They could have the choice to do something different and not be with each other all the time. These guys decided to be with each other, and they thrive when all together. They just have fun [and] you can sit on the field too,” FHSU assistant coach Saad Mohacht said. “ As coaches, it’s great to see their chemistry on and off the pitch because it makes our job easier. Coach Nichols is very heavy on the culture of the unit being inclusive. If we decide to do something, we are all gonna do it, good or bad, as long as we’re on the same page.”
For fellow assistant coach and former player, Marcos German, this season has been a wild ride supporting this team.
“I think having someone on the inside, telling the guys to trust the process, and because I’ve been in their shoes at the beginning, it seems weird the way we play, but then, as we can tell this year, everyone bought into the process and is paying off,” German said. “Being a coach is different; it’s a different perspective. I didn’t think I was going to miss playing, but at the end of the day, being a part of this run makes me feel so happy to be a part of the team.”
Along with Mohacht and German, Felix Tellez Ramirez is another FHSU assistant on this year’s coaching staff who has transitioned from Nichols’ team as a player to an assistant coach.
Regional and National recognition
On Tuesday afternoon, the Division II Conference Commissioners Association released the All-America list. Three Tigers claimed All-American performances out of the 39 total awards given.
The United Soccer Coaches poll was released, listing the region’s top players. In the Central Region, Fort Hays State claimed 5 of the 13 total All-Central Region awards.
Ovelar Semeniuk has racked up numerous personal awards this season. He was named the D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year and the GAC/MIAA Offensive Player of the Year. Ovelar Semniuk was also named a first-team All-American and All-Central Region award winner before the Final Four.
Ovelar Semeniuk’s 15 goals scored this season are the third most in FHSU program history for a single season. He will finish his career as a two-time USC All-Central Region selection.
“All of the awards are great, and I appreciate that my name is one of them, but I am in the position I am in because of my teammates, and this award is all about them too,” Ovelar Semeniuk said.
Freshman goalkeeper Payton Roehrich has also earned numerous awards this season, being named to the D2CCA All-Central Region team, earning a first-team All-GAC/MIAA spot, and being named GAC/MIAA Newcomer of the Year. On Tuesday, Roehrich was honored with D2CCA All-American 2nd team recognition and USC All-Central Region awards.
This season, Roehrich has a 0.40 goals against average this season, which ranks second nationally and first in program history. Roehrich has also earned an 86.2% save percentage, which ranks fourth nationally and is also the best in program history. He has claimed 11 clean sheets this season, good for 4th nationally, the most in a single season in FHSU history, and the 4th most in a career at FHSU.
“I appreciate getting the awards, but they don’t mean anything to me other than winning a national championship,” Roehrich said. “We have worked so hard to get to where we are, and I know that we have put a lot of work in, and I am glad that we are in the position we are in.”
Graduate student defender Dimitry Tchantcheu also claimed a D2CCA All-American third team award. Tchantcheu’s season was cut short due to injury, but he was also awarded D2CCA All-Central Region first team and All-GAC/MIAA this season. He has helped the Tigers earn the most shutouts in a season in program history.
Senior midfielder Tadhg Walsh claimed a USC All-Central Region team award. Walsh has collected 12 different awards during his career, spanning from the GAC/MIAA, USC, and D2CCA.
Sophomore midfielder Mamadou Oumar Ndiaye earned his third award this season, with a USC All-Central honor. Oumar Ndiaye has been named a D2CCA All-Central Region and an All-GAC/MIAA 2nd Team player.
Tiger send off, and the community support
On Tuesday afternoon, the team gathered at Gross Memorial Coliseum for a send-off celebration as they head to Colorado Springs for the national semifinals. The Tigers were welcomed by the Pep band, the cheerleaders, and fans.
“It’s really about the student athletes. I’m so excited for them and our coaches; they put in the time and the effort and work so hard. So to see all of that come to fruition, that’s what it’s all about,” FHSU Athletic Director Lisa Goddard McGuirk said. “We like to think that we play a small part in just supporting their efforts and trying to make it a seamless experience for them.”
“The FHSU Tigers Men’s Soccer team was greeted by fans and faculty before taking in their bus for the DII National Championship in Colorado Springs, CO.” 
“The FHSU Tigers Men’s Soccer team was greeted by fans and faculty before taking in their bus for the DII National Championship in Colorado Springs, CO.” 
“The FHSU Tigers Men’s Soccer team was greeted by fans and faculty before taking in their bus for the DII National Championship in Colorado Springs, CO.” 
“The FHSU Tigers Men’s Soccer team was greeted by fans and faculty before taking in their bus for the DII National Championship in Colorado Springs, CO.” 
“The FHSU Tigers Men’s Soccer team was greeted by fans and faculty before taking in their bus for the DII National Championship in Colorado Springs, CO.” 
“The FHSU Tigers Men’s Soccer team was greeted by fans and faculty before taking in their bus for the DII National Championship in Colorado Springs, CO.” 
“The FHSU Tigers Men’s Soccer team was greeted by fans and faculty before taking in their bus for the DII National Championship in Colorado Springs, CO.” 
“The FHSU Tigers Men’s Soccer team was greeted by fans and faculty before taking in their bus for the DII National Championship in Colorado Springs, CO.”
McGuirk said being able to host a send-off for the team is a huge deal.
“We’re down to the top four in the entire country,” she said. “I think anytime that we have a team or individuals are going to a final site, we have to make sure that it’s truly a special moment and send them off so they know that everybody here in Hays is rooting for them and how proud we are of them and how much we appreciate them.”
The Tigers were escorted by the Hays Police Department, Ellis County Sheriff’s office, and the Kansas Highway Patrol to the County line to show support to the team.
“Hays is a phenomenal community. When I came here to Fort Hays, it was really evident how invested our campus and Hays community were in Tiger athletics, and everybody showed up,” Goddard McGuirk said. “It’s finals week. We had the pep band and the cheer team. Here we had members of the Tiger Club. We had students, professors, faculty, staff, we had the Hays Police, the Sheriff’s Department, and UPD here.
“So this is like a total team effort, and that’s what athletics is all about. So to see that all come to fruition, and my first experience of being involved with doing a send off, it’s so awesome.”
Mohacht feels like the community supports the players, which means a lot to the team.
“It means a lot to me, this team is everything, honestly, just having people that support us, no matter what, it’s a great feeling, that’s all the help that we need, and want,” he said. “Even the guys appreciate it, when they saw the stands full of people during the (NCAA quarterfinal) game against Rogers State, I think that gives some motivation. We love feeling part of a community of something much bigger than just athletics.”