The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team remained the No. 2 ranked team in the second release of the NCAA Central Region Rankings, released on Wednesday. Lindenwood and Fort Hays State remained in the same position for the second straight week, while there was movement at the No. 3 and No. 4 rankings.

Lindenwood remains the No. 1 ranked team in the region and holds a national ranking of No. 13. The Lions are 11-2-2 overall. Fort Hays State is No. 2 at 10-3-1 overall and holds a national ranking of No. 20.

Harding moved up one spot in the latest rankings to No. 3 in the region, now at 8-4 overall. Ouachita Baptist is the new No. 4 in the region at 7-7 overall. Northeastern State, initially No. 3 in the rankings, fell out of the top four.

Two teams are selected to represent the Central Region in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers are looking for their fifth straight appearance in the tournament. Below are the NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings for October 26, 2016.

CENTRAL	Team	In-Region Record	Division II Record
1	Lindenwood (MO)	11-2-2	11-2-2
2	Fort Hays State	9-2	10-3-1
3	Harding	8-4	8-4
4	Ouachita Baptist	7-7	7-7

FHSU Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Wrestling was picked fourth in the 2016-17 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, released on Wednesday.

Nebraska-Kearney has been selected as the favorite to win the dual title for the fifth year in a row. The Lopers received all but one of the first places votes, with the second place selection Lindenwood receiving the other. UNK was the undisputed champions last season going 5-0 in the MIAA and taking third place overall at the 2016 NCAA Championships. Central Oklahoma was selected third receiving 18 votes and the Tigers were right behind with 14. Rounding out the final two spots are Central Missouri and Newman.

It will be a young team for the Tigers as they have several new wrestlers looking to shine on the mat. Returning this year is All-American Jon Inman who finished fifth at the NCAA Championships last season at 184 pounds. Other key returners for the Tigers this season are Anthony Calderon at 133 pounds and Jacob Kay at 141 pounds.
The Tigers will open up the season with the annual Black and Gold Scrimmage on Thursday (Nov. 3) at 6 pm.
Below is the complete MIAA preseason poll:

2016-17 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Nebraska-Kearney (5)     25
2. Lindenwood (1)               19
3. Central Oklahoma           18
4. Fort Hays State               14
5. Central Missouri                8
6. Newman                            6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team moved up five spots in the latest NSCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Tuesday (Oct. 25). The Tigers are ranked No. 20 in the latest edition after going 2-0 in non-conference play last week.

Fort Hays State and Lindenwood are the only two schools from the MIAA referenced in the top 25. Lindenwood is ranked No. 13 in the latest poll with an overall record of 11-2-2, while Fort Hays State is No. 20 with a record of 10-3-1.

Below is the NSCAA Men’s Division II Top 25 Poll for October 25, 2016.

Rank	School	Prev.	W-L-T
1	Wingate University	1	13-0-0
2	LIU Post	2	13-0-1
3	Simon Fraser University	4	11-0-2
4	University Of Charleston	6	12-2-1
5	Lynn University	8	12-1-1
6	Rockhurst University	5	13-2-1
7	Regis University	11	12-2-1
8	Limestone College	10	12-1-0
9	Adelphi University	9	12-1-1
10	University of California-San Diego	12	12-1-2
11	Midwestern State University	19	13-2-1
12	Palm Beach Atlantic University	13	9-3-1
13	Lindenwood University	17	11-2-2
14	Pfeiffer University	16	13-2-0
15	St. Edward’s University	3	13-2-1
16	Missouri University of Science & Technology	NR	9-1-6
17	Urbana University	15	10-3-1
18	Cal Poly Pomona	21	11-3-2
19	Franklin Pierce University	20	10-3-0
20	Fort Hays State University	25	10-3-1
21	Colorado Mesa University	14	12-1-3
22	Saginaw Valley State University	23	13-3-0
23	University Of Tampa	RV	8-3-2
24	Gannon University	24	10-4-1
25	Tusculum College	7	12-2-0

Also receiving votes: Notre Dame College (10), Dixie State University (7), Florida Tech (6), University Of Southern Indiana (3), Harding University (2), Lander University (1).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After two big MIAA wins last week the Fort Hays State women’s soccer team climbed three spots in the latest NSCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Tuesday (Oct. 25). The Tigers are ranked No. 21 in the latest poll.

Fort Hays State has enjoyed a stay in the top 25 for three polls this year. The Tigers join Central Missouri (No. 4) as the only two MIAA schools inside the top 25. FHSU is currently 12-3-1 overall, while Central Missouri is 14-1. The two are tied for the MIAA standings lead at 8-1 with two regular season games remaining for both teams.

Below is the NSCAA Division II Women’s Top 25 Poll for October 25, 2016.

Rank	School	Prev.	W-L-T
1	Western Washington University	1	15-0-1
2	Grand Valley State University	2	15-1-1
3	West Chester University	3	15-0-0
4	University of Central Missouri	4	14-1-0
5	Columbus State University	5	13-2-0
6	Adelphi University	7	13-1-1
7	St. Edward’s University	8	12-1-1
8	University of California-San Diego	9	14-2-0
9	Nova Southeastern University	14	7-1-3
10	Colorado School Of Mines	10	14-2-0
11	Minot State University	11	12-1-1
12	Rollins College	6	8-1-3
13	University Of Bridgeport	15	12-3-0
14	Kutztown University	22	13-3-0
15	Rockhurst University	16	14-1-2
16	Limestone College	18	13-1-0
17	University Of West Florida	17	13-3-0
18	Truman State University	19	12-1-3
19	University of North Georgia	12	10-1-3
20	Sonoma State University	20	10-2-2
21	Fort Hays State University	23	12-3-1
22	LIU Post	25	11-2-2
23	Edinboro University	RV	12-2-1
24	Colorado State University-Pueblo	NR	11-3-0
25	Notre Dame College	NR	12-1-2

Also receiving votes: Central Washington University (1), American International College (1), Minnesota State University-Mankato (1)

Fort Hays State Weekly Football Press Conference
October 25, 2016

Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown conducted his weekly press conference in advance of the Tigers road game at No. 10 Emporia State Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium. Brown and select players met with the media inside Lewis Field on Tuesday, a session that can be heard by clicking on the links below.

Head coach Chris Brown

 

Senior DL Sie Doe, Jr.

Senior WR Bilal Salat

Freshman WR Layne Bieberle

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State sophomore Abbie Flax was named the MIAA Women’s Soccer Athlete of the Week on Tuesday (Oct. 25), helping the Tigers go 2-0 in conference play last week. Flax went 2-0 for the week in goal, which included her eighth shutout of the season.

Flax helped FHSU record key MIAA wins over Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma. She picked up a shutout in the 1-0 double overtime win against Northeastern State, making five saves. She ran her individual shutout streak to five matches with the win. She surrendered just one goal to Central Oklahoma in a 3-1 win, saving six shots.

Flax joined Megan Woolley of Central Missouri (Offense Player of the Week) and Autumn Olendorff of Lindenwood (Defensive Player of the Week) as the player of the week selections.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State senior Michael Cole was named the MIAA Men’s Soccer Athlete of the Week on Tuesday (Oct. 25), helping the Tigers go 2-0 in non-conference play last week. Cole finished the week with three goals and two assists for a total of eight points.

Cole recorded the first hat trick of his career with three goals and became the fourth player in program history to accomplish the feat in a 7-0 win at Southern Nazarene. He added an assist in the match to set a new school record for points in a match with seven. In the 3-1 win at Oklahoma Baptist, he provided the assist on the game-tying goal before FHSU went on to score twice more in the match.

Fort Hays State returned to the D2Football.com after a one-week break on Tuesday. The Tigers are ranked No. 24 in the latest edition.

The Tigers jumped into the D2Football.com Poll for the first time in program history two weeks ago on October 11 at No. 23 following a 54-41 win at Pittsburg State. But Fort Hays State fell at Washburn 30-24 and dropped out of the poll the following week. With a 35-27 win to snap an 11-game losing streak to Missouri Western last week, the Tigers are back in the poll this week at No. 24.

The Tigers are one of four MIAA teams inside the D2Football.com Top 25. Northwest Missouri State is No. 1 in the nation, just as it is in AFCA Poll. Emporia State, this week’s opponent for FHSU, is No. 6, but holds the No. 10 ranking in the AFCA Poll. Central Missouri is No. 14, but joins FHSU in the receiving votes section of the AFCA Poll.

Below is the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll for October 25, 2016.

Team		Record	Last Week
1	Northwest Missouri State	8-0	1
2	Grand Valley State	8-0	2
3	North Alabama	5-1	3
4	Shepherd	7-0	4
5	Sioux Falls	8-0	6
6	Emporia State	7-1	7
7	Ashland	7-1	8
8	Texas A&M-Commerce	6-1	9
9	California	7-0	11
10	Harding	8-0	12
11	Midwestern State	6-1	5
12	Indiana (Pa.)	6-1	13
13	Minnesota Duluth	7-1	14
14	Central Missouri	6-2	15
15	Valdosta State	6-1	16
16	LIU-Post	8-0	18
17	Azusa Pacific	7-1	19
18	Ferris State	6-2	21
19	Wayne State (Mich.)	7-1	22
20	Tuskegee	6-1	10
21	UNC-Pembroke	7-1	23
22	Fairmont State	8-0	25
23	Central Washington	5-2	NR
24	Fort Hays State	6-2	NR
25	Assumption	6-1	NR

ENID, Okla. – Fort Hays State sophomore Hannah Perkins claimed the second individual title of her career at the Ranger Invitational, hosted by Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Meadowlake Golf Course. She helped the Tigers to a second-place finish as a team.

Perkins shot a total of 5-over par for the tournament with a 3-over par 75 on day one and then a two-over par 74 on day two. She was two strokes clear of Shanae Ammons from Lubbock Christian. Perkins was one of just three players to shoot inside 10-over par overall for the tournament. It was the first individual win of the season for Perkins, who claimed her first collegiate tournament win as a freshman last spring.

Taylor DeBoer joined Perkins in the top 10 individually in seventh place. She shot rounds of 85 and 82. Hannah Karisiuk was just outside the top 10 in 11th with rounds of 86 and 83. Kelsey McCarthy tied for 19th with rounds of 92 and 88, while Hadley Tharp shot two rounds of 97 to finish in 33rd.

Lubbock Christian won the team title by 27 strokes with a total of 638. The Tigers shot 665 and were clear of third place Northwestern Oklahoma State by 15 strokes. This tournament wraps up the fall schedule for the FHSU women.

ENID, Okla. – Colton Bobek led the Fort Hays State Men’s Golf team at the Ranger Invitational at Meadowlake Golf Course with a two day score of 149 (75, 74). The seven over par was good enough for a three way tie for 10th-place.

Dalton Ayers finished 17th overall for FHSU with back-to-back scores of 77 for a total of 154. Marcus Wiley also posted mirrored scores on day one and day two as he shot 80 on each day and came in 25th overall. Jake Weller come in tied for 26th overall with scores of 84 and 79, while Issiah Grover rounded out the scoring for the Tigers with rounds of 84 and 80. 

Host school Northwestern Oklahoma State claimed the team title with a combined two day score of 589. University of the Southwest took the runner up spot shooting 591, and South Dakota School of Mines took third overall with a score of 596.  The Tigers missed the top five by four strokes as they came in sixth with a team score of 626.

Brock Ehlers from South Dakota School of Mines took home the individual crown with a two day score of 141.

By Randy Gonzales
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

HAYS, Kan. — Former Tiger placekicker Drew O’Brien, the all-time leading scorer in Fort Hays State football history, has signed to play the 2017 season with the Salina Liberty, a member of Champions Indoor Football, a 16-team professional league. A Hays native and graduate of Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, O’Brien will reunite with former Tiger teammates linebacker Brock Long and running back Edward Smith, returnees from the Liberty’s inaugural season this past spring.

O’Brien, a four-year starter for the Tigers, broke FHSU’s 49-year-old school scoring record in the eighth game of his senior season. He finished his career with 244 total points and is on the top 10 list of numerous kicking and punting categories at FHSU. In 2015, O’Brien and Long were members of a record-setting Tiger team that qualified for postseason action for the first time in 20 years. Fort Hays State finished 8-4 to tie the school record for most wins in a season.

After setting single-season records of 171 tackles and 21.5 tackles for loss at FHSU last fall, Long went on to lead the CIF in tackles per game during the Liberty’s indoor spring season. Smith last played for the Tigers in 2014, when he led the team in rushing. In his first season with the Liberty, Smith was fourth in yards per catch among CIF players.

The CIF represents an area that stretches across the mid-United States from Michigan to New Mexico and from North Dakota to Texas. The Liberty is a member of the Central Division along with the Dodge City Law, the Wichita Force and the Duke City Gladiators out of Albuquerque, N.M.

The CIF schedule runs from March through June.