The Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout will be Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 at Hays High School and Hays Middle School.
Category: Sports
Manhattan sweeps TMP to open Hays City Shootout
The Manhattan boys and girls basketball teams earned a sweep of the TMP-Marian basketball teams to open play at the 36th Annual Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout Thursday at Hays Middle School.
Boys: Manhattan 67, TMP 48
In the first game the Manhattan Indians opened the game on a 11-0 run and never trailed on their way to a 67-48 win.
The Monarchs offense struggled with seven first quarter turnovers and didn’t record their first field goal until just over three and a half minutes left in the first quarter. By that time Manhattan had built a 12 lead.
Down 16 midway through the second quarter the Monarchs went on a 16-8 run to end the first half spurred on by a pair of threes by Ryan Stoeklein to cut the deficit to 33-25 at halftime.
A Jared Mayers field goal early in the third quarter cut the Manhattan lead to six but that was as close of the Monarchs would get as the Indians responded with a 14-3 run to build a 17-point lead at 47-30.
Jared Mayers and Ryan Stoeklein each finished with a game-high 13 points to lead TMP.
Bill Meagher postgame interview
Game highlights
The Monarchs will face St. Thomas Aquinas at the 5:15 game Friday evening at Hays Middle School.
Girls: Manhattan 53, TMP 32
Manhattan held the Monarchs to just one first quarter field goal and forced TMP into eight turnovers in the quarter on their way to a 53-32 win Thursday.
Manhattan used runs of 9-2 and 14-2 to build a 22-6 lead over TMP midway through the first half but the Monarchs finished the first half on a 9-4 run sparked by an Abby Rueschhoff three to cut the Indians halftime lead to 26-15.
The Indians started the second half on a 14-2 run and never looked back on their way to the 53-32 win.
TMP sophomore Sasha Wasinger came off the bench to the lead the Monarchs with a new career-high 13.
Manhattan senior Kia Wilson lead all scorers with 18.
Rose McFarland postgame interview
Game highlights
TMP will face Millwood in the 3:30 game Friday afternoon at Hays Middle School.
Hays sweeps Great Bend to open Hays City Shootout
Hays High opened the 36th Annual Gerald Mitchell Shootout with Great Bend on Thursday evening.
Girls
Hays 79 – Great Bend 44
Hays sprinted out of the gates with a 12-0 run over the first two minutes of the game against Great Bend. The Indians pushed their advantage up to 18 in the first quarter at 25-7. Great Bend scored the final two points of the first quarter and turned those points into a 16-2 run over midway through the second quarter. The Panthers pulled within four points twice at 27-23 and 29-25. Hays though ended the first half on a 10-4 run and lead 37-27 at halftime.
Highlights
The Indians never led by less than ten points in the second half, eventually using a 12-3 run to push the lead as high as 20 by the end of the third quarter. Hays outscored Great Bend 42-17 in the second half and win 79-44.
Hays was led in scoring by Savannah Schneider with 21 and Brooke Denning came off the bench to score 16. Alex Hutchins played 12 in the game and 10 different Indians scored.
Coach Alex Hutchins
Hays starts the year at 1-0 and Great Bend 0-1. Hays will face Manhattan in the championship semi-finals at 5:15.
Boys
Hays 74 – Great Bend 58
Hays never trailed in the first half as the two teams traded a first quarter before Hays took the lead at 5-2. Hays used a 7-1 run midway through the first quarter to build their lead up to 14-7. The Indians had the ball four times but couldn’t expand their advantage. Hays settled for a 14-9 lead after the first quarter. Great Bend scored the last two points of the first quarter and first five points of the second quarter to tie the game at 14. The Indians scored six quick points to regain their advantage and moved the lead to 35-27 at half for the biggest lead of the first half.
Highlights
Hays led by double figures for nearly the entire second half. The Indians used runs of 8-0, 7-2 and 9-2 to push their lead over 20 where it remained for most of the fourth quarter before winning 74-58. The Indians shot 44% on the evening and never trailed in the game. Great Bend shot 36%.
Tradgon McCrae led the way with 18, Braiden Meyers scored 12 on four three points field goals while TJ Nunnery came off the bench to score 10.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays moves to 1-0 and Great Bend falls to 0-1 to begin the season. Hays will take on Manhattan on Friday evening at 7:00.
Tournament Scores and Schedule
Girls
Hays 79 – Great Bend 44
Manhattan 53 – TMP 32
St. Thomas Aquinas – 58 – Millwood (OK) 35
Boys
Hays 74 – Great Bend 58
Manhattan 67 – TMP 48
Millwood (OK) 51 – St. Thomas Aquinas 47
Friday Schedule
Girls
3:30 TMP v Millwood (Hays Middle School)
5:15 Hays v Manhattan (Hays High School)
7:00 St. Thomas Aquinas v Great Bend (Hays Middle School)
Boys
3:30 Millwood v Great Bend (Hays High School)
5:15 TMP v St. Thomas Aquinas (Hays High School)
7:00 Hays v Manhattan (Hays High School)
Tigers fall to Buccaneers in penalty kicks in national semifinal
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team ended their season on a scoreless draw with Barry University (Fla.) in the NCAA National Semifinals. Barry connected on five of eight penalty kick attempts, while Fort Hays State converted four of eight. The Tigers end their historic season at 17-2-2 overall, while Barry is set to meet the winner of West Chester and Cal Poly Pomona for the National Championship on Saturday (Dec. 1).
A defensive battle from the start, neither team could take advantage of missed opportunities. Both the Tigers and Buccaneers ended the first period of regulation with seven shots and three shots on goal.
In the second half of regulation, Barry held a 7-6 edge in shots taken, while both squads were able to put two shots on frame. During the 55th minute, Tiger keeper Fernando Pina experienced a trio of aggressive looks from the Buccaneers but came out of it unscathed. Ninety minutes came and went, and the match was still scoreless. However, in the series of aggressive looks Pina was injured and Cullen Fisch eventually replaced him in the 65th minute.
The first National Semifinal was then to be determined by sudden death overtime periods. In the first overtime, Alonso Rodriguez got the only shot off from either team. His shot was met by the Buccaneer keeper Marco Sordi. In the second overtime period, the substitute keeper Fisch fended off three shots from the Buccaneers to keep the season alive. 110 minutes was not enough to settle this battle.
For the first time all season, penalty kicks determined the Tigers’ fate. After the first round of PKs, both teams connected on their shot attempts. Tobias Patino put the Tigers on the board. In the second set, neither Buccaneer Lucas Russo nor Tiger Sergio Villalba were able to convert.
Barry was able to get a slight lead in the third round as Lorenzo Cerrai made his attempt and Moises Peralta was not able to convert his. However Buccaneer Francisco Aguirre missed his shot and sophomore Moritz Walther took the stage and connected on his penalty kick equalizing the score at 2-2.
In the fifth frame, Barry gave FHSU a chance to advance to the title match as Fisch came up with a save. Abdoulaye Cisse was set to take advantage and delivered his shot, however, leaping keeper Marco Sordi saved Barry’s season, pushing the penalty kicks into sudden death.
Both squads converted the sixth and seventh PKs. Mauricio Etcheverry and Raul Fierro converted for the Tigers. In the eighth round, Ivan Barriga converted his shot and Luis Torres was not able to secure another round for the Tigers as his shot in the cross bar and flew up over the goal.
All in all, Fort Hays State ended their 2018 campaign with the most victories (17) in a single-season and a 16-match unbeaten streak. The Tigers broke numerous individual and program records including all 10 offensive single-season team categories.
FHSU wrestling tabbed No. 16 in D2WCA national rankings; Ball and Osaghae ranked
FAYETTE, Iowa – The Fort Hays State wrestling team is in a tie with Kutztown as the Tigers and Bears are ranked No. 16 in the first regular season DII Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25 poll, released Wednesday (Nov. 28) by the organization. Fort Hays State was ranked at No. 17 in the preseason poll. The Tigers are one of four MIAA teams in the national rankings as Nebraska-Kearney sits at No. 2, Lindenwood at No. 10 and Newman is at No. 25.
In the individual rankings, junior Brandon Ball held steady as the No. 4 wrestler at 141 pounds. He sits at 4-0 on the year with an individual title at the Bethany Swede Open.
Also in the rankings is Efe Osaghae, who is tabbed fourth in the 157-pound weight class. The sophomore is putting together an outstanding season thus far at 8-1.
Stuffed animal toss at FHSU basketball game will benefit Toys for Tots
There will be a stuffed animal toss at halftime of the Fort Hays State University men’s basketball game for the second consecutive year to benefit Toys for Tots.
The games against Emporia State will begin at 2 p.m Dec. 8.
Anyone bringing a new stuffed animal will receive a $5 general admission ticket. Halftime activities will include everyone throwing their stuffed animals onto the court, where they will be collected for Toys for Tots.
The goal this year is to completely cover the court with stuffed animals.
Agudelo Named to United Soccer Coaches All-America Team
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Junior Santiago Agudelo has been named to the United Soccer Coaches Division II Men’s Soccer All-America Team. Agudelo earned second-team honors as a forward.
Agudelo had a big year for the Tigers as he led the nation in seven categories; goals (26), total points (58), shots per match (5.82), shots on goal per match (3.29), game-winning goals (eight), goals per match (1.53) and points per match (3.41). Agudelo set team records for all seven of these categories, including shots (100) and shots on goal (57) for the season. He converted a goal in a program-record seven-consecutive matches, breaking the previous record of six (Abdoulaye Cisse, 2017). In addition to these season records, Agudelo set the record for points in a match (10), goals in a match (five), shots in a match (13) and shots on goal in a match (eight). The Frisco, Texas native recorded four hat tricks throughout the season.
Agudelo adds this honor to D2CCA National Player of the Year, D22CA All-America First Team honors, MIAA Player of the Year, All-MIAA First Team honors, D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year and D2CCA & United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region First Team honors for the year.
Below is the 2018 United Soccer Coaches All-America Team
| First Team | ||||
| Position | Name | Class | School | Hometown |
| GK | Vinny Tasca | Sr. | Wilmington | Audubon, Pa. |
| D | Williams N’dah | Jr. | Charleston | Rome, Italy |
| D | Juan Sanchez* | Sr. | Palm Beach Atlantic | Madrid, Spain |
| D | Jordan Skelton* | Jr. | Lander | Newcastle, England |
| MF | Gabriel Costa | Fr. | Azusa Pacific | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| MF | Carlos Gomez | Sr. | Young Harris College | Algete, Spain |
| MF | Alex Lipinski | Jr. | Spring Hill College | Krefeld, Germany |
| MF | Mamadi Camara | Sr. | Simon Fraser | Montreal, Quebec |
| F | Matteo Polisi | So. | Simon Fraser | Coquitlam, British Columbia |
| F | Mikie Rowe | Sr. | Young Harris College | Wexford, Ireland |
| F | Marek Weber | Sr. | Le Moyne College | Fulda, Germany |
| Second Team | ||||
| GK | Elliott Barker | Jr. | Palm Beach Atlantic | Harrogate, England |
| D | Isaac Bawa | Fr. | Azusa Pacific | Legon, Ghana |
| D | James McGhee | Sr. | Colorado Mesa | Gilbert, Ariz. |
| D | Michael North | Sr. | Simon Fraser | Coquitlam, British Columbia |
| MF | Manuel Achondo | Jr. | Mercy College | Santiago, Chile |
| MF | Gabriel Cabral | Jr. | Charleston | Petropolis, Brazil |
| MF | Tim Klefisch | Jr. | CSU-Los Angeles | Leverkusen, Germany |
| F | Santiago Agudelo | Jr. | Fort Hays State | Frisco, Texas |
| F | Arturo Astorga | Jr. | Azusa Pacific | El Paso, Texas |
| F | Lukas Ostermann | Sr. | LIU Post | Saterland, Germany |
| F | Anthony Velarde | Sr. | Fresno Pacific | Reedley, Calif. |
| Third Team | ||||
| GK | Luciano Trasolini | So. | Simon Fraser | Burnaby, British Columbia |
| D | Morten Bjoershol | So. | CSU-Los Angeles | Oslo, Norway |
| D | Nadeer Ghantous | Sr. | Cal Poly Pomona | Hifa, Israel |
| D | Kyle Hoops | Sr. | West Chester | Phoenixville, Pa. |
| D | Omar Sinclair | Sr. | Saginaw Valley State | Manchester, England |
| D | Niklas Tasky* | Sr. | Lynn | Hannover, Germany |
| MF | Kevin Del Mazo | Sr. | Colorado Mesa | Santiago, Chile |
| MF | Salar Faryar | Jr. | Le Moyne College | Frankfurt, Germany |
| MF | Joe Garcia* | Sr. | Northeastern State | Grand Prairie, Texas |
| F | Flavio Colasanti | Sr. | Barry | Rome, Italy |
| F | John Haist* | Jr. | Colorado School of Mines | Wantage, England |
| F | Seabstian Loibl | So. | Nova Southeastern | Hutthurm, Germany |
| F | Claudio Rivadeneira | Jr. | Palm Beach Atlantic | San Fernando, Chile |
| F | Alex Satrustegui | Sr. | Southern New Hampshire | Pamplona, Spain |
* Denotes repeat selection
Three Tigers named to D2CCA All-America team; Agudelo National Player of the Year
POMONA, Calif. – The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team had three Tigers named to the D2CCA All-America Team for the 2018 season. Forward Santiago Agudelo, defender Luis Torres and goalkeeper Fernando Pina earned accolades. Agudelo was named D2CCA National Player of the Year.
Agudelo was named a first-team selection as a forward. Agudelo had a big year for the Tigers as he led the nation in seven categories; goals (26), total points (58), shots per match (5.82), shots on goal per match (3.29), game-winning goals (eight), goals per match (1.53) and points per match (3.41). Agudelo set team records for all seven of these categories, including shots (100) and shots on goal (57) for the season. He converted a goal in a program-record seven-consecutive matches, breaking the previous record of six (Abdoulaye Cisse, 2017). In addition to these season records, Agudelo set the record for points in a match (10), goals in a match (five), shots in a match (13) and shots on goal in a match (eight). The Frisco, Texas native recorded four hat tricks throughout the season.
Agudelo adds this honor to MIAA Player of the Year, All-MIAA First Team honors, D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year and D2CCA & United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region First Team honors for the year.
Torres was named a second-team selection as a defender. Torres was a dominant force along the defensive line for the Tigers. He led the Tigers in minutes played on the pitch (1,690) as well as scoring five goals and adding two assists to his ledger for a total of 12 points on the season. Torres makes his second All-America team as a defender (2016). He adds this honor to All-MIAA First Team honors and D2CCA & United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region First Team honors for the year.
Pina was named a third-team selection as a goalkeeper. He ranked 12th in the country in goals against average (.634) and save percentage (.829). Pina earned a 12-0-1 record in goal for the Tigers, one win shy of tying the program record for wins in a season.
First Team
Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown
GK Alexander Brems Cal State L.A. Jr. Odense, Denmark
F John Haist Colorado School of Mines Sr. Wantage, England
F Lukas Ostermann LIU Post Sr. Saterland, Germany
F Matteo Polisi Simon Fraser So. Coquitlam, British Columbia
F Santiago Agudelo Fort Hays State Jr. Frisco, Texas
MF Anthony Velarde Fresno Pacific Sr. Reedley, Calif.
MF Connor Glennon Simon Fraser Fr. Vernon, British Columbia
MF Gabriel Costa Azusa Pacific Fr. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
MF Sergio Diaz Post So. Madrid, Spain
D Juan Sanchez Palm Beach Atlantic Sr. Madrid, Spain
D Michael North Simon Fraser Sr. Coquitlam, British Columbia
D Rory O’Keeffe Midwestern State Jr. Glanmire, Ireland
D Williams N’Dah Charleston Sr. Rome, Italy
Second Team
GK Taylor Lampe Midwestern State So. Mansfield, Texas
F Alex Satrustegui Southern New Hampshire Sr. Pamplona, Spain
F Flavio Colasanti Barry So. Rome, Italy
F Mikie Rowe Young Harris Sr. Wexford, Ireland
F Pato Botello Faz St. Mary’s (Texas) Sr. Monterrey, Mexico
MF Alex VonHolle Colorado-Colorado Springs Jr. Midland, Texas
MF Danny Ortiz Cal State San Bernardino Sr. El Paso, Texas
MF Sean Rickey Southern Indiana Jr. Columbia, Ill.
MF Will Stone Wilmington Sr. Littlehampton, England
D Jason Zobott Colorado School of Mines Jr. Lanke in the Hills, Ill.
D Jordan Skelton Lander Sr. Newcastle, England
D Kyle Hoops West Chester Sr. Phoenixville, Pa.
D Luis Torres Fort Hays State Sr. Asuncion, Paraguay
Third Team
GK Fernando Pina Fort Hays State Sr. Houston, Texas
F Connor Gordon Concordia (Calif.) Sr. Huntington Beach, Calif.
F Mamadi Camara Simon Fraser Sr. Montreal, Quebec
F Marek Weber Le Moyne Sr. Fulda, Germany
F Sean Hoffstatter West Florida Jr. Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
MF Francisco Greco Barry Fr. Buenos Aires, Argentina
MF Joe Garcia Northeastern State Sr. Grand Prairie, Texas
MF Lucca Lima West Texas A&M Jr. Caxaambu, Brazil
MF Matthew Bentley West Virginia Wesleyan Jr. London, England
D Armando Tikvic Charleston So. Hamburg, Germany
D Aydan Bowers San Francisco State Sr. Murrieta, Calif.
D Isaac Bawa Azusa Pacific Fr. Accra, Ghana
D Nadeer Ghantous Cal Poly Pomona Sr. Hifa, Israel
Ron Lenz National Player of the Year: Santiago Agudelo (Jr., F, Fort Hays State)
Hamel named girls soccer coach at TMP-M
Hamel is a current student at Fort Hays State University. Previously, Hamel played central mid-field for the Bethel Threshers. Her soccer career started at the age of 5.
“I fell in love with the game,” she said.
Her love for the game grew and ultimately led her to soccer camp counseling.
“Camp is where I figured out I enjoyed coaching and leading. I want to teach the ladies that God comes first and weave His teachings into my daily routines,” Hamel said.
“We are excited to welcome Racheal Hamel to our coaching staff and have her lead our girls soccer program. Racheal has a vested interest in the girls soccer program at TMP-Marian as a former player and will do everything in her power to ensure the success of the program. Racheal will bring excitement and passion to the program, as well as, provide a positive role model for our student athletes,” said Troy Schulte, activities director.
FHSU soccer kicks way into national spotlight
By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Followers of Fort Hays State University fall athletics won’t have to wait until next year to watch Tiger football.
Tiger fútbol – i.e. soccer – is still alive in 2018.
The FHSU men’s soccer team traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa., earlier this week to compete for a national championship in the program’s eighth year of existence. The Tigers qualified for the NCAA Division II championship week by winning a quarterfinal match on their home field on Nov. 17.
FHSU Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke said Fort Hays State is fortunate this year to be part of the National Championships Festival, unique to NCAA Division II and held every four years for fall, winter and spring sports.
“This is going to be a great experience for our student-athletes, to be a part of the festival year,” Hammeke said. “It really enhances the experience for all of them, because it’s a much bigger production than it would be at one location for each individual sport.”
More than 900 student-athletes will be competing in Pittsburgh for six fall championships – men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s volleyball and women’s field hockey.
The festival has an Olympic-type setting, featuring an opening and closing ceremony for the student-athletes on Tuesday and a social lounge area where they can congregate, similar to an Athletes Village. The festival also features participation in community engagement during the week.
It also will give the Tigers a chance to tell others about Fort Hays State. FHSU will be one of three schools representing Kansas at the festival. Washburn University’s volleyball team made the top eight, and Pittsburg State qualified its women’s cross country team as well as one runner in the men’s competition.
“Any time you can get to where you are competing at the national level, it brings more exposure,” Hammeke said, “not only to your sport, but to your university as a whole, on a regional and national level and in a positive light.”
The 2-0 victory over Ohio Valley University on a cold, windy day not only lifted the program to new heights, but it also gave Brett Parker – the only head coach in program history – his 100th victory at FHSU.
The Tigers would like to make that 102 by the end of the weekend. The semifinal winners will advance to the national title game at 11 a.m. Central Time Saturday.
But first things first. FHSU is scheduled to take on Barry (Fla.) University in the first of two semifinal matches at 10 a.m. Thursday.
The match can be seen live online at https://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2018/11/29. It will be live-streamed in the Memorial Union’s Cody Commons as well as in Victor E. Lounge in Gross Memorial Coliseum.
With its 17-2-1 record, highlighted by a 14-match winning streak, Fort Hays State received the No. 1 seed for the final four.
Fort Hays State, ranked 11th in the nation, might have a bit of an advantage over its opponent, No. 4 seed and 20th-ranked Barry, whose home is in warm and sunny Miami.
FHSU practiced in cold temperatures recently and left town Monday, a day after Hays’ first winter blizzard of the season. Snow showers are forecast for the Pittsburgh area today and Thursday, with game-time temperatures in the mid-30s.
“We practiced in 30 degrees today with about an inch of snow on the ground,” FHSU Coach Brett Parker said via telephone Tuesday. “I don’t know if it will make a difference. But at least we know what to expect. We definitely are not afraid of cold weather. We’ll take any advantage we can get at this stage.”
The other half of the bracket also features a warm-weather team in No. 2 seed Cal Poly Pomona (17-6-0), which will face what would have to be a local favorite in No. 3 seed West Chester University (15-2-5).
West Chester, located in western Pennsylvania, is only about a four-and-a-half hour drive from Highmark Stadium.
However, Cal Poly Pomona has an edge in experience on the entire field; this marks the third trip to the final four in four years for the Broncos, who finished as national runners-up in 2015. CPP will enter Thursday’s match on a four-game winning streak after defeating three nationally ranked teams on its way to Pennsylvania.
Although Fort Hays State’s program is less than a decade old, Parker said reaching the national semifinals has been a long time coming.
FHSU made it to the quarterfinals four of the past five seasons. The first three years, the Tigers suffered close, heartbreaking losses each time – either by one goal or on penalty kicks following two overtime periods.
Then came this year.
“That (quarterfinal) game is always so difficult with the level of opponent you face and what’s at stake,” Parker said. “We finally got the monkey off our back.”
The Tigers had to overcome some adversity to even get to the quarterfinals this year.
Despite earning the top seed in the Central Region and earning the chance to host the regional and national quarterfinals, things didn’t look good early in the second half in the regional championship game.
FHSU was playing Northeastern State University, a team the Tigers had beaten twice before this season.
“It’s hard beating a team three times in a season, and it got harder each time we faced them,” Parker said.
None was more difficult than the regional title game. The Tigers trailed the RiverHawks 1-0 in the second half when FHSU’s star player went down with an ankle injury.
When junior forward Santiago Agudelo – the top scorer in all of NCAA II with 26 goals – left the field, Parker said, he didn’t have time to wonder how his team would react.
“Soccer is such a team game, and everybody realized they had to pick up some of the slack,” Parker said. “Of course, we would love to have Santiago, one of the best players in the country at his position, but we haven’t missed a beat.”
Fort Hays State went on to score three goals in the final nine minutes to beat Northeastern State, 3-1. The RiverHawks finished the season 15-3-1 with all three of its losses being to the Tigers.
“I think that really helped our confidence in the quarterfinal game, after still playing well in the regional game even without Santiago,” Parker said.
Agudelo, who injured tendons in his left ankle, is in a cast and won’t play this week. But he is still a big part of the team; his role has just changed.
“He’s a big reason why we are even here,” Parker said. “We wish he was playing, but it’s great having him with us on the sidelines, too.”
When looking back at the season, the 2018 Tigers will have plenty to celebrate: their 8-0 conference record earned FHSU a second straight MIAA championship.
Parker was honored as MIAA Coach of the Year for a second consecutive year. Agudelo was named Player of the Year for both the MIAA and the Central Region. Earlier today, Agudelo also garnered National Player-of-the-Year honors, as well as first-team All-America recognition by D2CCA. Two senior teammates, defender Luis Torres and goalkeeper Fernando Pina, also earned All-America honors.
The 17 victories to date surpassed the previous program-best by three. FHSU will finish the season ranked no lower than fourth in the nation.
But all the reminiscing will have to wait.
Right now, the Tigers are focused on Thursday morning’s game, and then hopefully can begin preparing for another match on Saturday.
“If we are going to fly all the way across the country, we might as well play two games,” Parker said. “We’re planning on being here, playing on Saturday.”
Wright leads Tigers past Central Christian
HAYS, Kan. – Freshman Nyjee Wright scored a career-high 14 points and Fort Hays State held Central Christian 46 points below their season average in a 71-46 win Tuesday at Gross Coliseum. Wright went 3 for 5 from beyond the arc and also dished out two assists. Trey O’Neil hit two threes to key an 8-0 run to close out the first half and scored 13.
Mark Johnson Postgame Interview
Nyjee Wright Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
The Tigers (4-3) went on a 16-4 run midway through the first half to go up 13 and led to 19 at halftime. They scored the first five points of the second half and led by as many as 28 down the stretch.
Central Christian (6-1), who averaged 92 points per game, was held to 18 in the first half and shot only 33-percent.
Jubril Osagie and Steve Kuminga, the top two scorers for CCC who averaged over 30 between them, were held to five.
FHSU’s Brady Werth and Marcus Cooper were both held scoreless in the first half and finished with 10 points between them.
Fort Hays State’s women’s basketball jumps into Top 10 in national polls
FHSU Athletics
After three victories away from home last week, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team continued its climb in both NCAA DII national polls released Tuesday. The Tigers now sit at No. 10 in the WBCA Coaches Poll while they rank eighth in the D2SIDA Media Poll.
It is the best ranking for the team in the media rankings since February 9, 2016 when they were sixth in the poll. The Tigers return to the top 10 in the coaches poll for the first time since February 23, 2016, making this the 23rd week FHSU has been listed in the top 10 according to the coaches. The Tigers are now 52-21 all-time while ranked.
Additionally, the Tigers are tied for first in the D2SIDA Media Central Region Poll, knotted up with conference rival Central Missouri. The Tigers picked up three of the five first place votes, with the other two going to the Jennies.
Fort Hays State is one of three MIAA programs listed in the national polls. Central Missouri sits in seventh in both rankings while Central Oklahoma ranks 21st in the media poll and Emporia State is No. 25 in the coaches variety.
The Tigers will return to Gross Memorial Coliseum for six consecutive home games beginning Saturday, December 1 against Missouri Valley College before opening MIAA play next week. First tip is set for 2 p.m.
Five Tigers earn United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region honors
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team had five Tigers honored with United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region selections for the 2018 season. Forward Santiago Agudelo, midfielder Tobias Patino, defenders Raul Fierro and Luis Torres and goalkeeper Fernando Pina earned the distinction.
A junior forward, Agudelo claims his second all-region honor as a Tiger after being selected as the Central Region Player of the Year and earning D2CCA All-Central Region First Team honors. Agudelo was named the MIAA Player of the Year and earned First Team All-MIAA honors. He led the nation in goals (26), total points (58), shots per match (5.82), shots on goal per match (3.29), game-winning goals (eight), goals per match (1.53) and points per match (3.41). Agudelo set team records for all seven of these categories, including shots (100) and shots on goal (57) for the season. He converted a goal in a program-record seven-consecutive matches, breaking the previous record of six (Abdoulaye Cisse, 2017). In addition to these season records, Agudelo set the record for points in a match (10), goals in a match (five), shots in a match (13) and shots on goal in a match (eight). The Frisco, Texas native recorded four hat tricks throughout the season.
Patino, a senior midfielder, was named to the D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team and earned All-MIAA First Team honors. He leads the team in assists (ten). This is Patino’s first selection on the United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region team.
Fierro, a senior defender, was named to the D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team and earned All-MIAA First Team honors. He ranks fourth on the squad in minutes played on the pitch (1,603).
Pina, a senior goalkeeper, was a force in goal for the Tigers in 2018. He ranked 12th in the country in goals against average (.634) and save percentage (.829). Pina was named to the D2CCA All-Central Region First Team and earned All-MIAA First Team honors.
Torres, a senior defender, was named to the D2CCA All-Central Region First Team and earned All-MIAA First Team honors. He led the team in minutes played on the pitch this season (1,690). Torres scored five goals and added two assists for a total of 12 points. This is Torres’ third straight honor on the United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) All-Central Region team.
10 of the 11 members of the United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region team represent the MIAA. Northeastern State earned four spots, while Lindenwood garnered one spot on the team.