FHSU Athletics
No. 23 Fort Hays State was picked to finish second in the MIAA Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll, released Thursday (Aug. 21), identical to its finish last year. The Tigers are coming off their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament under head coach Brett Parker, going 12-5-3 in 2013 and reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Super Region 3 bracket.
Among the many returners for the Tigers in 2013, nine started at least 17 games last year. That group includes All-American Honorable mention Diego Cabral, a senior midfielder, who lead the team with seven assists while finishing second on the team in points (23) and goals (eight).
Cabral and five other Tigers started all 20 games for FHSU last year, joining seniors Tanner Brock, David Lucio (four assists last year), Eric Hymer (1,894 minutes played in 2013) and Carlos Linares, and sophomore Drew Wilson. Brock and Hymer were All-MIAA First Team selections in 2013, while Cabral was All-MIAA Second Team and Linares and now-junior Michael Cole (five goals, one assist in 2013) earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors.
In the net for FHSU, the 2013 MIAA Freshman of the Year (and All-MIAA Second Team selection) Jason Babyak and now-senior Kent Freund split time at goalkeeper last year. Babyak compiled a 9-3-2 record as a starter with six shutouts, allowing 1.01 goals per game. Freund was 3-2-1 as a starter, shutting out opponents three times and allowing just five goals (0.80 per game).
Mauricio Castorino and Maurizio Costa are among several newcomers who will help FHSU overcome the graduation of an All-American (Ricardo Yeverino) and a two-year All-Region performer (Daniel Peralta).
Lindenwood, which won the MIAA Championship in a shootout over the Tigers last year, and knocked FHSU out of the NCAA Tournament, was picked first with 35 points and five first-place votes, narrowly ahead of Fort Hays State and Northeastern State, each tied for second with 29 points and one first-place vote.
Upper Iowa, the other MIAA tournament competitor last year, was picked fourth with 20 points, ahead of Harding’s 16 tallies. Southern Nazarene (12 points) and Southwest Baptist (six points) closed out the poll.
FHSU hosts Midland University in an exhibition on Thursday (Aug. 21) at 7 p.m., with the regular season action set to begin Sept. 5against Colorado State University-Pueblo, at the Days Inn Soccer Classic in Hays, Kan.
The complete MIAA Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll is below…
2014 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Lindenwood (5) 35
T2. Fort Hays State (1) 29
T2. Northeastern State (1) 29
4. Upper Iowa 20
5. Harding 16
6. Southern Nazarene 12
7. Southwest Baptist 6