By KYSON EVANS
Tiger Media Network
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado. – Despite controlling possession and generating sustained pressure throughout the match, the Fort Hays State men’s soccer team saw its postseason run come to an end with a 1–0 loss to Rollins College in the NCAA Division II national semifinal Friday night at Weidner Field.
Rollins (14-4-5) capitalized on a first-half opportunity in the 24th minute, scoring what proved to be the match’s lone goal. Fort Hays State (20-1-3) responded with an aggressive second-half push, outshooting the Tars 20–4 after halftime and finishing with a 24–10 advantage in total shots, but the equalizer never came.
“I’m incredibly proud of this group,” head coach Alex Nichols said postgame. “We controlled large stretches of the game and put ourselves in positions to score. Sometimes that’s the way this sport goes, but the effort, belief, and fight from our guys never wavered.”
FHSU Men’s Soccer warming up to take on Rollins College in the National Championship Semifinal. 
FHSU Head Coach Alex Nichols getting prepped and interviewed for pre-match notes. 
The match between the Tiger and the Tars taking place at Weidner Field, the home of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, at 3 PM Mountain Time. 
Energetic first half, Tadhg Walsh is pictured heading a ball in the offensive direction. 
Physical first half as Agustin Ayala draw a foul on the Tars. 
Joseph Street preparing to take a long throw into the box, as he has done all year. 
Mamadou Oumar Ndiaye looks intensly at his opposition as time starts to tick down in the second half. 
Bastian Carlman keeps the FHSU threat alive in the second half. 
Rollins College capitalize over FHSU with a 1-0 victory, Juan Linares congratulates a Tars player. 
Freshman Juan Linares does not want to leave the field after the first loss of FHSU’s season, that also ends it. 
Freshman Goalkeeper Payton Roehrich is consoled by his teammates. 
Fans teary eyed after a heartbreaking FHSU loss. 
Dylan Ashford and Dalton Cates walk off the pitch at Weidner Field. 
Coach Alex Nichols talks highly of his team this season in the press conference following his teams Semifinal exit.
The Tigers had possession for 55% of the game and earned 9 corner kicks, consistently testing the Rollins back line. Forwards Elias Ovelar Semeniuk, Agustin Ayala, and Tadhg Walsh were active throughout the attack, combining for 12 shots as Fort Hays State pressed for the tying goal.
Walsh, who played 85 minutes in the midfield, emphasized the group’s resilience after conceding early.
“We didn’t panic,” Walsh said. “We stuck to our style, moved the ball, and kept believing we could break through. Everyone gave everything they had out there.”
Defensively, Fort Hays State limited Rollins to just 4 shots in the second half. Defender Jackson Elgas anchored the back line, helping hold the Tars scoreless over the final 66 minutes while the Tigers pushed numbers forward.
“Our mentality was to keep them pinned back and give our attackers chances,” Elgas said. “We trusted each other defensively so we could commit forward and try to get that goal.”
Goalkeeper Payton Roehrich recorded 4 saves in the match, while Rollins keeper Kilian Vallant finished with 7 stops to preserve the shutout.
The loss ends a historic season for Fort Hays State, which finished with the most wins in program history and advanced to the national semifinals for the second time in program history.
“This team raised the standard for Fort Hays State soccer,” Nichols said. “What they accomplished this season will be remembered, and it sets the foundation for where this program is headed.”