HAYS, Kan. – Playing as a rescheduled game from October 18th, the Tigers were unable to hold off the Jennies’ high-powered offense for the full 90 minutes. UCM forced overtime and escaped Hays with a 2-1 victory. Fort Hays State ends the regular season at 10-5-2 (6-3-2 MIAA) and will have the No. 5 seed for the upcoming MIAA Tournament. Central Missouri ended its 2019 regular season at 16-1-1 (10-0-1), claiming the MIAA regular season championship.
The Tiger offense was ready to go from opening kick. They had five shots against UCM’s Lindsey Johnson in the first 20 minutes of play. Fort Hays was able to capitalize on a mistake from Johnson in the 25th minute. Cailey Perkins waited at the top of the box off a goal kick, where Johnson accidentally fed her the ball. Perkins fired one past Johnson for her sixth goal of the season and gave FHSU the early 1-0 lead. In the 75th minute, it looked as though Central Missouri had tied the game off a header from Kassie Newsom. However, she was ruled offsides, and Fort Hays caught a break.
Despite FHSU’s best efforts to hold UCM scoreless for a full 90 minutes, UCM was able to tie the game up on a goal from Makayla Toth in the 83rd minute. Following a frenzy in the box that positioned Megan Kneefel away from the goal, Toth was on the receiving end of two blocked shots and she was able to net her 16th of the 2019 campaign.
In overtime, the Jennies were able to put their first shot in the back of the net just seven minutes into a golden goal situation. After working the ball around the field, off another blocked pass Kelsey Mueller found an opening and struck the ball past Megan Kneefel to seal the victory for the Jennies.
The Tigers outshot the Jennies in the first half, 8-3, but were able to only muster two more shots for the rest of the match. Chloe Montano led the team with three shots, and two on goal. Darby Hirsch and Jenna Prince followed Montano with two shots each and one on goal for Hirsch. Perkins scored the lone goal for the Tigers, and it stood as her only shot of the match.
Facing twelve shots, Megan Kneefel (9-4-2) stopped two of the four shots on goal from UCM.
The Tigers turn their focus towards the postseason, as they prepare to battle No. 4 seed Central Oklahoma in Edmond on Friday in the MIAA conference tournament. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. Fort Hays traveled to Edmond on Oct. 4 earlier this season and escaped with a 2-1 victory.