The Tiger football team fell to the 7th-ranked Griffons of Missouri Western by a score of 21-3 in Hays on Saturday evening. It was the third straight ranked opponent for the Tigers, who fell to 0-4 overall and 0-4 in the MIAA with the loss. Missouri Western moved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the MIAA.

Chris Brown Postgame News Conference
Coaches Interview

Addie Brown Postgame Interview
Player Interview

Game Highlights
Game Highlights

Fort Hays State did a much better job of keeping its defense off the field by putting together time-consuming drives in the first quarter. They had the ball for 9:22 in the opening frame of the game to keep the high-powered Griffon offense off the field. Missouri Western scored a touchdown on its first drive of the game on a 19-yard pass from Travis Partridge to Kyle Knox and led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Fort Hays State freshman kicker Drew O’Brein pulled the Tigers within four at the 11:51 mark of the second quarter with a 48-yard field goal, the longest of his young college career. It also tied the eighth-longest field goal in FHSU history.

After the field goal, the Griffons put together a methodical 11-play drive that took 5:29 to push its lead to 14-3. Partridge found Tarrell Downing for a 17-yard touchdown pass with 6:18 remaining in the opening half.

The Tigers moved inside the Griffon 40-yardline three times in the second half, but every time fumbled the ball ending in turnovers. Missouri Western sealed the game with a 1-yard run for a touchdown by Partridge at the 11:32 mark of the fourth quarter, ending a 12-play, 81-yard drive.

Addie Brown led the Tiger rushing attack with 87 yards on 11 carries. Tarean Austin completed 17-of-30 passes for 112 yards and ran for 45 yards on 11 attempts. Grant Brown and Addie Brown each had three receptions.

Layton Hickel led the Tiger defense with 10 tackles. Aaron Burton, Basil Bandy, Austin Hubert and Tyler Richards and all had sacks in the game and Keke Paul had the lone Tiger interception. The Tigers held Missouri Western to 427 yards of total offense, the first opponent the Tigers have held under 500 yards this year.

Michael Hill, one of the top rushers in Division II, had 198 yards on the ground for the Griffons on 26 carries. Travis Partridge was 13-of-24 passing in the game with two touchdowns and a rushing touchdown to his credit. Mike Jordan and Marc Harrison led the Griffon defense with six tackles.

Fort Hays State goes on the road next week to Truman (3-1, 2-1 MIAA). The game is set for 1 pm on Saturday (Sept. 29) in Kirksville, Mo.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Tomas Mares scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime that lifted the No. 15 Tigers to an exciting 3-2 win over No. 20 Northeastern State on Thursday night at the FHSU Soccer Stadium in Hays. Mares totaled two goals, his fifth and sixth of the season, in the match.

The win ups the Tigers record to 6-1 and 2-0 in the MIAA, while the Riverhawks drop to 4-2 and 1-1 in the MIAA.

Mares’ goal came right in front on a ball from Carlos Linares in the 102nd minute of the match. The golden goal gave the Tigers their first win over a top 25 program in their short two-year history.

Michael Cole scored the game tying goal in the 83rd minute, knocking in a cross from Tanner Brock.

After trailing 1-0, the Riverhawks scored two second half goals. Edgar Gonzaga kicked in a rebound in the 78th minute for a 2-1 NSU advantage.  Juan Gonzalez scored the first Riverhawk goal in the 56th minute, making a run and scoring from the left side of the box.

The Tigers tallied the only first half goal as Mares made a run on the right side of the pitch, and Brock found him with the pass and his first of two assists.

Goalkeeper Kent Freud earned the win for the Tigers, making eight saves and allowing two goals. His record is 2-0 this season.

After a close 9-6 Riverhawk shot advantage in the first half, NSU dominated the second half shots with 14 compared to three from the Tigers. In the first overtime, NSU held a 2-1 shot advantage, while the Tigers got the only shot in the second overtime, the game-winning goal

Fort Hays State is back at home Saturday against Harding University at 1 p.m.

– FHSU Sports Information –

After their first loss of the season to No. 23 West Texas A&M, the Tiger men’s soccer team dropped to No. 15 in this week’s poll, released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Tuesday. The Tigers were previously ranked No. 11.

Fort Hays State, which is 5-1 and 1-0 in the MIAA, went 1-1 last week. The Tigers opened MIAA play with a 5-2 road win over Southern Nazarene then traveled to West Texas A&M and lost, 2-0, to the Buffs, who were ranked No. 13 at the time.

The Tigers are ranked for the third straight week in the polls, which are the first three appearances the Tigers have made in their short two-year history.

FHSU continues to lead the Central Region rankings. Northeastern State is second in the region with Lindenwood, Truman and Harding No. 3-5.

The No. 15 Tiger hosts No. 20 Northeastern State this Thursday in a conference match at 7 p.m at the FHSU Soccer Stadium.

– FHSU Sports Information –

In a battle between two top 25 teams, the No. 11 Fort Hays State Tigers fell, 2-0, to No. 13 West Texas A&M on Sunday afternoon  in Canyon, Texas. The Tigers allowed two early goals in the first 20 minutes for all the scoring. The loss is the first for the Tigers as FHSU is now 5-1 and 1-0 in the MIAA.

The host Buffs took the lead early, scoring in the second minute of the match on a shot from the corner of the box to the upper right corner. West Texas A&M extended the advantage to 2-0 in the 19th minute as Conrod Goulbourne knocked in a rebound from a shot that hit the crossbar.

The Tiger offense struggled, getting only four shots off all game; however three shots were on goal. The Buffs totaled 22 shots, including eight on goal.

Ryan Pakieser started in goal and took the loss for the Tigers. He made six saves and allowed the two goals.
The Tigers look to get back on track at home on Thursday against MIAA opponent Northeastern State at 7 p.m. at the FHSU Soccer Stadium.

– FHSU Sports Information –

The Fort Hays State women’s soccer team scored two early goals and pulled away from Southwest Baptist in a 3-0 win Sunday at the FHSU Soccer Stadium in Hays. The Tigers are now 4-2 and 1-1 in the MIAA.

Bethany Keefer put the Tigers on the board in the 8th minute as she knocked in a corner kick from Gabrrielle Makatura and tapped over to Keefer by Jordan Hester. Makatura and Hester both picked up assists on the goal.

Fort Hays State doubled its lead in the 20th minute on a shot by Cindy Benitez from the right side about 10 yards away. Keefer had the assist on the Benitez goal.

In the second half, freshman Jordan Hester scored her team-high third goal of the season, lobbing a shot over the approaching SBU goalkeeper in the 65th minute. A Benitez pass set up the Hester goal.

The Tiger defense was strong, allowing only six shots and one on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Rachel Schaad picked up her second shutout win on the season and upped her record to 2-1.

The match was very physical with 35 fouls called, including 22 on the Bearcats. There were also four total yellow cards.

The Tigers travel to Missouri Southern on Friday (Sept. 21) for a 4 p.m. tilt in Joplin, Mo.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Five individuals will be inducted into the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame on October 20, 2012. Joining the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame this year will be Ken Dreiling, Bill Dunlap, Cliff Leiker, Dave Okeson, and Jody Wise. The induction ceremony will occur on the morning of October 20 on the campus of Fort Hays State University, then the inductees will be recognized at halftime of the home football game against Lincoln University.

Ken Dreiling – Football
A native of Victoria, Kan., Dreiling was an All-American for the Tiger football squad in 1964 as a defensive tackle. During that season, he averaged 8.8 tackles per game, recording 79 total tackles for the season, a very-high number for a defensive lineman. The Victoria, Kan., native played two seasons at Fort Hays State after transferring from St. Benedict’s College (what is now Benedictine College). He helped the Tigers to a 5-4 record in his senior season and was an All-District 10 and All-CIC First Team selection. He played alongside linebacker Dave Jones, who was also an All-American that season and a member of the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame.

Bill Dunlap – Cross Country/Track and Field (posthumous)
Dunlap was a 2-time All-American for FHSU in cross country. He earned All-American honors in 1956 and 1957. He finished third in the nation in 1956 at the NAIA National Championships, helping the Tigers to a second-place national finish in the program’s first year as a varsity sport at FHSU. He finished third in the nation once again in 1957 at the NAIA National Championships, helping the Tigers to a sixth-place national finish. He won at least five races over those two years, often battling with rival Bill Tidwell of Emporia State. Dunlap was the CIAC individual champion in 1957 as a senior. He set a school record in the four-mile run as a junior in 1956. In track and field, Dunlap finished second in the nation in the 2-mile run as a senior, setting a school record at the time.

Jody Wise – Volleyball Coach
Wise coached the Fort Hays State volleyball program for 18 years from 1978 to 1995. She guided the Tigers to winning seasons in 12 of those 18 years, posting a career record of 546-408-2 at FHSU. She guided the Tigers to three NAIA National Tournament appearances with her 1984 and 1985 teams placing ninth nationally. She is the only coach in Fort Hays State history to reach the 400-win or 500-win plateau in their respective sport while at FHSU. She was the District 10 Coach of the Year three times in her career (1980, 1982, 1984) and was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1991. In 1986, she was chosen to select and coach the volleyball team which represented the United States at the National Sports Festival in Tahiti. Her volleyball squads won at least 30 matches nine times in her tenure, which included six years of at least 40 wins and three years of at least 50 wins. She guided FHSU to a school record 53 wins in 1984.

Cliff Leiker – Football
A native of Hays, Kan., Leiker was an AP Little All-American selection in 1960 as an end as a sophomore, and a three-time All-CIC selection (twice as an end and once as a defensive back). After serving in the U.S. Army, Leiker returned to play football at Fort Hays State for four years from 1959 to 1963. As a freshman in 1959, he made 11 catches for 256 yards, averaging 23.2 yards per catch with three touchdowns and tied for the lead in scoring on the team with four touchdowns. As a sophomore in 1960, he hauled in 29 receptions for 614 yards, averaging 21.2 yards per catch with four touchdowns. He led the conference in receiving yards that year, earned 1st Team All-CIC honors for the second straight year. He missed the majority of the 1961 season with an injury and returned in 1962 to put up solid numbers once again as a junior, this time in a dual-threat as an offensive end and a defensive back. He earned 2nd Team All-CIC honors that year as a defensive back, but still hauled in 18 passes for 381 yards, averaging 21.2 yards per catch with three touchdowns on offense. He capped his career as the best-ever receiving end to that date at Fort Hays State with eight receptions for 164 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 20.5 yards per catch in 1963. For his career, he finished with 66 receptions for 1415 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Dave Okeson – Men’s Basketball
A native of Weskan, Kan., Okeson was an NAIA All-American selection for the Tigers in his junior year of 1970-71. He joined senior teammate Daryl Stockstill as a pair of All-American selections that season, helping the Tigers win the Rocky Moutain Athletic Conference Plains Division crown and RMAC Championship Playoff Championship with a two-point overtime win over Western New Mexico on WNMU’s home court. That season, Okeson averaged 15.6 points per game, shooting 47.9 percent from the field. He led the team in field goals made with 180. As a senior in 1971-72, Okeson averaged 17.2 points per game, shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 85.9 percent at the free-throw line. That free-throw percentage is third-best for a single season in FHSU history. He averaged 16.4 points per game in his two-year career at FHSU after transferring fromHutchinsonCommunity College. He scored over 30 points in a game twice at FHSU with 35 points being his career high againstHastingsCollege. Okeson was a two-time All-RMAC and NAIA All-District 10 1st Team selection.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Fort Hays State men’s basketball coach Mark Johnson announced the signing of eight more players for the 2012-13 season after two players signed early with the program in November of 2011. The latest recruits include Dwayne Brunson, Nick Capiti, Tomislav Gabric, Rundell Mauge, Andrew Victoria, Marty Wendel, Austin Brown, and Scott Ochs. Early signings in November 2011 included Craig Nicholson and Carson Konrade.

Brunson was a standout performer at Barton (Kan.) Community College, where he earned All-Region 6 Second Team and All-KJCCC West Division Second Team honors for the 2011-12 season. Last year, he averaged a double-double of 17.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. He had double-doubles in 16 contests and recorded 83 blocked shots for the season, averaging 2.9 per game. He also had a solid freshman season with an all-conference honorable mention nod, averaging 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game to go along with 93 blocked shots, averaging 3.2 per game. Brunson is a 6-foot, 7-inch, 220-pound forward from Queens, N.Y.

Capiti comes to the program from Merritt (Calif.) College, where he played for two years. He led Merritt in scoring in 2011-12, averaging 14.9 points per game, and pulled in 5.6 rebounds per game. He shot the ball really well from the field, hitting 53.6 percent of his shots overall and 51 percent from beyond the 3-point line. Capiti also led his team in steals with 46. He is a 6-foot, 1-inch guard from Oakland, Calif.

Gabric comes to FHSU from Palm Beach (Fla.) State College, where he played for two years. He appeared in 20 games as a sophomore in 2011-12, averaging 4.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. As a freshman in 2010-11, he averaged 5.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Gabric stands at 6-feet, 6-inches and is a native of Split, Croatia.

Mauge is a senior transfer from the University of Pacific, standing at 7-feet tall and 270 pounds. He played in 17 games for Pacific in 2011-12, averaging 1.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. He redshirted the 2010-11 season at Pacific after transferring from North Platte (Neb.) Community College, where he played for two years. He was a NJCAA All-Region 9 Tournament selection in 2009-10 as a sophomore in a year where he averaged 5.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per game and helped his school to its first-ever Region 9 championship. He ranked eighth in total blocked shots and sixth in blocked shots per game in the NJCAA that year. Mauge is a native of Cedros, Trinidad and Tobago.

Victoria transfers to FHSU from Butler (Kan.) Community College, where he played for two years. He averaged 9.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in 2011-12 as a sophomore, shooting 58.3 percent from the field. As a freshman in 2010-11, he averaged 2.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 66 percent from the field. Victoria is a 6-foot, 8-inch, 230-pound native of Bridgeport, Conn.

Wendel joins fellow teammate Carson Konrade in transferring from Colby (Kan.) Community College to FHSU. He played two years at Colby after a standout prep career at Ingalls High School in Ingalls, Kan. Wendel averaged 4.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2011-12. As a freshman in 2010-11, he averaged 2.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Wendel is a 6-foot, 6-inch, 210-pound forward.

Brown is a freshman from Olathe East High School in Olathe, Kan. Last year as a senior, Brown averaged 7.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, helping his team to the state tournament. He helped Olathe East to a third-place finish in Kansas Class 6A as a junior, with 7.6 and 5.9 rebounds per game. He is a 6-foot, 5-inch forward.

Ochs is a junior transfer from Colby (Kan.) Community College. As a sophomore in 2011-12, he appeared in 19 games for the Trojans, averaging 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. As a freshman in 2010-11, he played in 29 games, averaging 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. The 6-foot, 7-inch, 240-pound forward hails from Quinter, Kan.

Nicholson, a 5-foot, 8-inch guard from Wichita Northwest High School, who signed with the Tigers in November, had a great end to his prep career. He was a Kansas Class 6A All-State First Team selection by the Wichita Eagle and a Second Team selection by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. He was also part of the ESPN Preseason All-State Team for Kansas. The Wichita, Kan., native averaged 20.2 points per game as a senior.

Konrade, a 6-foot, 3-inch guard from Colby (Kan.) Community College, led his team in scoring as a sophomore at 14.3 points per game, while pulling down 6.1 rebounds per game. He shot 44.2 percent from the field and 38.8 percent beyond the 3-point line in 2011-12, draining a team-high 78 3-point field goals. He also reached the foul line 115 times, where he shot 74.8 percent. Konrade is a native of Spearville, Kan.

– FHSU Sports Information –

The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team moved up two spots in the poll to No. 11, announced Wednesday by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The Tigers went 2-0 on the weekend in the Days Inn/FHSU Soccer Classic and are now 4-0 on the season.

This is the second straight week the Tigers have been ranked after coming in at No. 13 last week. It marks the second straight time and second time overall the Tigers have been ranked in the national poll. Last season in FHSU’s first year of soccer, the Tigers received votes but never broke into the top 25.

Fort Hays State continues to be ranked No. 1 in the Central Region this week after appearing No. 1 in last week’s poll as well. Northeastern State sits in the No. 2 spot in the region with a 3-1 record.

The Tigers are the highest ranked MIAA team with Northeastern State ranked No. 21. FHSU and NSU are the only two ranked MIAA schools.

Below is the Complete NCAA Division II Top 25.

1. Lynn (4-0-0)
2. Seattle Pacific (3-0-0)
3. Southern New Hampshire (3-0-0)
4. Flagler (2-0-1)
5. Midwestern State (3-0-0)
6. Franklin Pierce (2-0-0)
7. University Of Tampa (3-0-0)
8. Grand Canyon (3-0-0)
9. Gannon (4-0-0)
10. Rockhurst (3-0-1)
11. Fort Hays State (4-0-0)
12. Simon Fraser (4-0-0)
13. West Texas A&M (4-0-1)
14. Quincy (4-0-0)
15. North Carolina-Pembroke (4-0-0)
16. University Of Charleston (2-0-2)
17. LIU Post (4-0-0)
18. Young Harris (4-0-0)
19. Regis (2-0-1)
20. Saginaw Valley State (3-1-0)
21. Northeastern State (Okla.) (3-1-0)
22. Fort Lewis (2-1-0)
23. Rollins (2-1-1)
24. Mercy (5-0-0)
25. Slippery Rock (2-0-2)

The last time the Fort Hays State volleyball played their home opener against Nebraska-Kearney, they won. That was back in 2003. It also happens to be the last time the Tigers beat the Lopers in volleyball. UNK ran their win streak to 13 Tuesday night with a straight sets (25-7, 25-12, 25-16) victory in front of 1,011 at Gross Coliseum.

Chris Brown Post-match Interview
Kurt Kohler Post 9-11

The top-ranked Lopers jumped out to an early 15-2 lead in the first set. The Tigers were within two points in the second set when UNK reeled off eight straight to take control. Fort Hays held their only lead of the match early in the third before the Lopers eventually pulled away.

Nebraska-Kearney hit .375 for the match while the Tigers hit .000 with 22 kills and 22 errors.

Jenna Ulrich led Fort Hays with six kills. Kayla Zoglman had 18 assists as the Tigers fall to 6-4. UNK is 8-0 and wins their MIAA debut.

Fort Hays State football coach Chris Brown held his weekly news conference Tuesday night following the Tigers practice.

Quarterback Tarean Austin and linebacker Austin Hubert were also available for the media. Listen to comments from all three below.

Chris Brown News Conference
Chris Brown Presser 9-11-12

Tarean Austin
Tarean Austin Presser

Austin Hubert
Austin Hubert Presser

Trey Herman fired a pair of 73’s to finish in a fourth place tie and helped the Fort Hays State men’s golf team to a sixth-place team finish at the Pittsburg State Invitational which wrapped up Tuesday at the Crestwood Country Club.

Herman finished two-over the tournament and was two shots back of Washburn’s Sam Schulte. Tucker O’Hair finished five-over and tied for eighth.

The men return to action in two weeks at the Northeastern State Classic in Broken Arrow, Okla. The tournament will be at Emerald Falls Country Club.

FHSU results…

T4. Trey Herman, 73-73, 146
T8. Tucker O’Hair, 74-75, 149
T31. Mark Cunningham II, 79-75, 154
T57. Travis Kleweno, 77-83, 160
T67. Jeff Jarvis, 85-82, 167

FHSU Women 14th at Drury Fall Shootout
The Fort Hays State women finished 14th at the Drury Fall Shootout in Bolivar, Missouri.  Carmen Thompson closed with a 79 and was the Tigers top finisher, tying for 48th.

Southwestern Oklahoma State won the event with a total of 612.

The Lady Tigers return to action next week at the Northeastern State Women’s Classic in Tahlequah, Okla. The tournament will be at the Cherry Springs Golf Course.

FHSU results…

T48. Carmen Thompson, 88-79, 167
T55. Samantha Hobson, 86-82 , 168
T63. Kaycee Beilman, 83-89, 172
T84. Megan DeWerff, 90-89, 179
T96. Chelsea Deitz, 97-97, 194

The No. 13 Fort Hays State men’s soccer team defeated Colorado Mesa, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 9) in the final match of the Days Inn/FHSU Soccer Classic at the FHSU Soccer Stadium in Hays. Daniel Peralta tallied the game winner to give the Tigers the 2-1 win and a perfect 4-0 start so far in 2012.

Peralta knocked in a Tanner Brock shot from the right side of the box after the Maverick goalkeeper could not corral the Brock shot. The goal, Peralta’s team-high fourth of the season, gave the Tigers the 2-1 lead in the 70th minute.

Fort Hays State scored the first goal of the game in the 25th minute as Tomas Mares hit in his own rebound from a penalty kick that did not get past the keeper to the left side.

The Mavericks responded in the 40th minute when CMU’s Kevin Escobar headed in a cross from Marco Escobar to tie the score at 1-1.

Kent Freund made his first appearance in goal this season getting the win for the Tigers. He made one save and allowed the one Maverick goal.

The Tigers are now 4-0 on the season and went 2-0 at the Days Inn/FHSU Soccer Classic this weekend, defeating Sioux Falls on Friday, 3-1. FHSU starts the MIAA slate on Friday with a road tilt at Southern Nazarene at 7 p.m. The Tigers then travel to No. 24 West Texas A&M on Sunday for a non-conference contest.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Washburn scores touchdowns on four of their first five possessions, racing out to a 28-0 first quarter lead and knocks off the Fort Hays State Tigers 45-20 in front of 5,054 in the Tigers homer opener at Lewis Field Saturday night.

Chris Brown Postgame Interview
coach interview

FHSU Player Interviews
player interviews

Game Highlights
highlights 9-8

The Tigers lost two fumbles and an interception the first stanza resulting in 14 Ichabods points. Washburn added two second quarter touchdowns to lead 42-0 at the half.

Fort Hays State scored their first points on a Tarean Austin one-yard run with 6:02 to play in the third quarter. Raheeme Dumas returned a Joel Piper interception 28 yards for a score with 6:32 to play in the fourth quarter to make it 45-13. The Tigers scored their last points on a three-yard TD pass from Austin to Travious Alexander.

The Ichabods held the Tigers to just 72 yards off offense in the first half and 246 for the game while they racked up 565 yards.

Austin was 13-31 for 131 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was also sacked three times. Freshman Addie Brown rushed for 114 yards on 21 carries. Starting tailback Ed Smith had just one carry in the game after injuring his shoulder early in the game.

Mitch Buhler was 15-20 for 252 yards and four touchdowns for the Ichabods who start the season 2-0. The Tigers fall to 0-2.