BY TRISTAN SASSE<\/p>\n
PHOTO COURTESY OF FHSU ATHLETICS<\/p>\n
Coming off its first MIAA title in program history, the Fort Hays State University men\u2019s soccer team is ready to build off a successful 2017 campaign. While five Tigers will be graduating, three of which started the majority of the season, soon-to-be senior defender Caesar Jones<\/a> is ready to guide Fort Hays even further in the 2018 season with an amplified role.<\/p>\n The Tigers began the 2017 season at No. 11 in the national rankings but quickly stumbled to 0-4-2 and out of the Division II Top 25 Poll. In early September, FHSU allowed three goals against McKendree University and followed it up a week later by giving up a season-high four goals to Midwestern State. Jones started neither game and saw limited playing time.<\/p>\n After playing in a reserve role during his first two seasons with FHSU, Men\u2019s Head Soccer Coach Brett Parker gave Jones a major opportunity early in his junior year. In Fort Hays\u2019 fifth game of the year, on September 14 against Seattle Pacific,\u00a0the junior defender made his first appearance in the starting lineup. The Tigers lost the match 2-1, but it began a streak of 13 straight starts by Jones.<\/p>\n After a slow start to the season, FHSU hit a different stride with Jones as a starter. He gave the Tigers valuable playing time and logged 110 minutes in each of his first two starts, as both matches went to extra time.<\/p>\n Sophomore Midfielder and former MIAA Freshman of the Year Luis Mendez<\/a> noticed Jones\u2019 impact on defense was prevalent. \u201cThe defense is the core of our team and sees everything,\u201d said Mendez. \u201cHelp defensively turns into motivation for the offense.\u201d<\/p>\n Since Jones is a defender, his impact on the game is often overlooked. During one stretch, FHSU reeled off seven-straight wins<\/a> and outscored opponents 27-3 through that span. Jones started each of those seven games.<\/p>\n The win streak helped the Tigers take victories in 11 of their final 13 contests, and Fort Hays finished with an overall record of 11-6-2. FHSU also completed conference play with a 7-1 record to sit alone atop the MIAA standings and capture the 2017 MIAA Championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMy favorite memory as a player was winning the conference title last year and being the first team in school history to do so,\u201d said Jones. \u201cJust everything the team faced really made us a closer group.\u201d<\/p>\n When Jones started matches, the Tigers went 10-2-1 compared to 1-4-1 when he did not. In the 13 games Jones started, Fort Hays gave up only 12 goals. Meanwhile, the Tigers allowed eight goals in his five games off the bench.<\/p>\n Mendez mentioned how Jones gave the Tigers both the spark and teammate they were looking for.<\/p>\n \u201cCaesar was always the guy that was in good spirits and just had everyone in a good mood and excited not just for games but practice too,\u201d said Mendez. \u201cHe was positive and happy all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n