HAYS, Kan. – The No. 10 ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team used two goals in the final five minutes to defeat the University of Mary in the Tigers’ regular season finale on Saturday (Nov. 3), 2-0. The Tigers completed the regular season with a 15-2-1 overall record and an 8-0 conference record, while the Marauders ended their season 4-9-1.

In the second matchup of the season pitting these two squads that started with FHSU blowing out Mary 7-0, ended with a much different outcome the second time around.

The first period featured defensive battle from both the Tigers and Marauders. The Tigers held the 13-1 edge in shots taken, however, neither team could break the threshold of the goal. Both teams went into the locker rooms scoreless.

For much of the second half, it was a carbon copy of the first 45 minutes. At the 85:00 mark, Mauricio Etcheverry pushed ahead the ball to Abdoulaye Cisse, who then fed the ball to Alonso Rodriguez in the box. Rodriguez headed the ball into the back of the net, beating goalkeeper Lukas Billhardt to his right and the Tigers held the 1-0 advantage late in the match.

FHSU was not done, however, when Arsenio Chamorro fired a shot towards the goal that was deflected by Billhardt, then Abdoulaye Cisse took advantage and shot the ball and beat the keeper to increase the Tiger lead to 2-0 in the 87th minute of the contest. The 2-0 score would prove to be the final.

Tiger keeper Fernando Pina picked up the victory in goal for FHSU, improving his overall record to 10-0-1. Rodriguez and Cisse scored their fourth goals and Cisse picked up his sixth assist on the season, while Etcheverry grabbed his third assist and Chamorro picked up his second assist on the year. Santiago Agudelo led the Tiger offense with five shots.

The Tigers will find out their postseason fate on Monday when the NCAA Selection Show takes place to let the teams know where and when they will play.

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team grabbed the opening set against Missouri Western Saturday (Nov. 3) on Senior Day, but the Griffons rallied to take the regular season finale, 3-1. The Tigers wrap up the regular season 8-22 overall and 2-16 in MIAA play, while the Griffons move to 15-16 and 7-11 in league competition.

The Tigers were firing on all cylinders in the opening set, hitting .270 while making just four errors and holding the Griffons to a .098 attack percentage. The teams alternated points early, with neither side leading by more than two. With the score tied at 10, Fort Hays State took the lead for good thanks to a 6-1 run. Four consecutive MWSU errors gave the Tigers an advantage before Kayla Vitztum dropped in a pair of kills, putting FHSU in front 16-11. The visitors closed within 22-19 after a run of their own, but two more kills from Vitztum and a final kill from Ashley Webb handed the Tigers a 25-20 win.

Fort Hays State continued the momentum into the second set, using a nine-point run to go in front by as many as 11-4. Isabelle Reynolds contributed two kills and a solo block during the run before a service ace from Bre Becker put the Tigers in front by six and forced a Griffon timeout. MWSU then rallied to take a 16-13 lead with a 12-2 run. Two Tatum Bartels kills and a Griffon error tied things up at 16 before the teams traded points over the next several minutes. Again tied at 20, Missouri Western scored five of the final six points to level the match as the teams left for the locker room, 25-21.

Missouri Western used big runs to take control in the third and fourth sets, securing the match after wins of 25-15 and 25-19.

The Tigers finished the match with a .120 attack percentage compared to a .196 swing rate for the visitors. Both sides totaled seven blocks, including five from Bartels.

Azlyn Cassaday wrapped up her Tiger career with her third double-double, totaling 12 kills and 13 digs. The rest of the senior class contributed all afternoon, with Madison Elwood recording seven kills, three digs and two blocks, Ashley Webb totaling five kills and one block, Abby Groth contributing four digs and two assists and Becca Page tossing up a team-best 15 assists to go with seven digs.

HAYS, Kan. – The No. 17 ranked Fort Hays State wrestling team kicked off the 2016-17 season on Thursday (Nov. 1) with the annual Black and Gold Scrimmage inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. For the third time in four years, the black team came out on top, this time by a score of 34-29.

The scrimmage commenced with redshirt-freshman Jonathan Ball and newcomer freshman Jonathan Green. The 149-pound bout began with takedown in the first period from Ball. In the second frame, Ball escaped Green’s grasp, then picked up another two takedowns and was awarded a ride time point. Ball defeated Green with an 8-1 major decision. The black squad got off to a 4-0 lead in the match after the first bout.

In the second bout, freshman Nathan Dotson took on fellow newcomer Isaiah Luellen in a matchup of 165-pound wrestlers. Luellen took control after the first period with a 6-2 lead. In the second period, Luellen picked up 15 points and defeated Dotson with a 21-6 technical fall. After the first two bouts, the gold squad was on the board and led the match 5-4.

The third bout featured freshman Kody Collins and junior Jordan Davis. Davis fell behind early with a 2-0 takedown from Collins, but then picked up a reversal and pinned Collins in 1:32 into the first period. The fall increased the gold’s lead to 11-4.

The 125-pound exhibition match featured Mason Turner and Collin Cole. Turner reversed fortunes for the black squad when he pinned Cole just 1:36 into the first frame.

True freshmen Payton Sadowski and Broderick Green faced off in the other 125-pound bout. In the first period Sadowski earned two takedowns and took a 4-2 lead into the second frame. Sadowski led the rest of the second period and picked up a takedown along the way to a 6-4 lead over Green. After Green knotted the bout up at 6-6, Sadowski escaped Green’s grasp and pulled away with the 8-6 decision after being awarded a ride time point.

In the 133-pound exhibition bout, true freshmen Cole Zebley and Devin Onwugbufor took to the mat against each other. In the first period, Onwugbufor and Zebley exchanged a couple takedowns and escapes, while Onwugbufor led the bout 4-2. For the rest of the match, Onwugbufor took over and picked up a 12-5 major decision.

The other 133-pound bout, freshman Riley Tubbs faced off with junior Conrad Cole. Tubbs and Cole battled until the end when Tubbs was victorious with a 4-2 decision.

Senior Dy’Juan Carney and newcomer Josh Lenker battled each other in the 141-pound exhibition. Lenker took control of the match and downed Carney with a 12-8 sudden victory in overtime. At the halfway point in the scrimmage, the black squad held the close 18-15 lead.

In the other 141-pound weight class, junior Wyatt Alvis faced off with redshirt-freshman Pedro Ordonez. Ordonez controlled the entire match and walked away with a 16-1 technical fall victory over Alvis.

Anthony Scantlin and Efe Osaghae battled in the 157-pound bout. After Scantlin tied the match 2-2 with an escape in the first period, Osaghae picked up a takedown and never looked back. Coming off an All-American honor, Osaghae picked up a 12-6 decision to give the golf squad the 23-18 advantage in the match.

Moving up a weight class to 165 pounds, redshirt-freshmen Aryus Jones and Conrad Vajnar battled it out on the mat. Jones erupted to an 18-0 technical fall victory in the second period to knot the match up at 23 all.

The other 165-pound bout featured true freshmen Christopher Ball and Isaiah Luellen. This was Luellen’s second match of the night and he put up a tough fight in a rematch of the 2015 KSHSAA 3-2-1A state title bout in the 152-pound weight class. Ball came out on top with a narrow 11-8 decision to grab the 26-23 lead for the gold squad.

Sophomore Marty Verhaeghe took on senior transfer Nick Meck in the 174-pound bout. In a match where both wrestlers found hard until the end, Meck came out on top over Verhaeghe with the 6-3 decision.

At 184 pounds, senior Micquille Robinson battled against newcomer Tyler Boone. Neither wrestler could gain an advantage on the other in the first two periods. Robinson grabbed a quick reversal, takedown and a ride time point to defeat Boone with a 5-1 decision.

In the penultimate bout of the evening, No. 4 ranked Brandon Ball battle Jonathan Green. Ball picked up a takedown and 4-point near fall in the first period. In the second frame, Ball did the exact same thing and took a commanding 12-0 lead. Ball put away Green with another 4-point near fall and a ride time point to defeat Green with the 17-0 technical fall victory.

In the final match of the scrimmage, sophomore A.J. Cooper faced off against Jordan Davis. In his second bout of the night, Davis grabbed a 2-0 lead after a takedown in the early-going of the first period. From then on, Cooper used a reversal, a couple 2-point near falls and a ride time point to put away Davis with a 10-3 decision to give the black squad the ultimate 34-29 win.

The Tigers begin regular season action at the Bethany Swede Open next Saturday (Nov. 10). The tournament is set to commence from Lindsborg, Kan. at 9 a.m.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Fort Hays State led by nine with 2:35 to play in the third quarter then were held to one field goal the rest of the way and lost 48-46 to Kansas State Thursday at Bramlage Coliseum. Taylor Rolfs, who hit a 3-pointer to force overtime at Kansas Sunday, had her shot blocked at the end of regulation.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Tatyanna Legette Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Tigers were 1-of-12 from the field in the fourth quarter and shot 23-percent for the game.

Kansas State was held to 1-of-20 from beyond the arc and shot 31-percent on the night.

Tatyanna Legette led FHSU with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Wildcats were led by Rachel Ranke who scored 12.

LILBURN, Ga. – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team will open the 2018-19 season next week ranked 12th in the country according to the WBCA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll, released Thursday (Nov. 1). This is the second time the Tigers have been ranked in the top 25 to open the season (10th, 2015-16).

Fort Hays State is one of two MIAA schools ranked in the top 25, with defending national champion Central Missouri topping the poll. Emporia State is the final league team mentioned in the standings, receiving 11 points among the 24 ballots.

This is the highest ranking for the Tigers in the coaches poll since March 1, 2016 when they were also ranked 12th.

The Tigers have now been recognized in the WBCA national poll in seven straight seasons and eight years overall. Fort Hays State holds a 51-22 all-time record while ranked and is 47-21 under head coach Tony Hobson.

The Tigers were also recognized with a No. 22 ranking in the D2SIDA Preseason Media Poll, released earlier this week.

Fort Hays State opens the regular season against Southwest Minnesota State inside Gross Memorial Coliseum on November 9. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m.

Below is the 2018-19 WBCA NCAA DII Preseason Coaches Poll.

Dropped Out: 9 Augustana (SD) (29-4); 18 Southern Indiana (26-5); 21 UC San Diego (28-5); 22 Azusa Pacific (27-5); 24 Grand Valley State (26-7); 25 Hawaii Pacific (26-4)

Others receiving votes: Sioux Falls 47; Angelo State 35; UC San Diego 31; Augustana (SD) 17; Embry Riddle 15; Johnson C Smith 14; LIU Post 14; Southeastern Oklahoma State 14; Southern Indiana 14; Emporia State 11; Hawaii Pacific 10; California (PA) 4

HAYS, Kan. – For the fifth-straight season the Fort Hays State women’s soccer team has advanced to the MIAA Tournament semifinals. The Tigers posted a 3-0 first round win at home over Missouri Western to stay alive in the conference tournament. Fort Hays State improves to 11-6-2 overall after finishing MIAA play with an 8-3 record.

FHSU took the regular season matchup with the Griffons in shutout fashion following a 1-0 win on their home turf. The post-season meeting would see similar results as the Tigers earned their seventh shutout of the season at 3-0.

In the 21st minute, senior Vianei Sanchez received a touch pass at the top of the box from the foot of Chloe Montano from 22-yards out to net the first Tiger goal of the game. FHSU boasted the 1-0 lead through the remainder of the first half and into the locker room. Fort Hays State tripled Missouri Western’s first half shot attempts by a 9-3 margin.

The Tigers looked to better their previous score against the Griffons as they maintained an offensive surge heading into the second half. Less than three minutes after halftime, Darby Hirsch earned her fifth goal of the season following a 30-yard solo blast, sending the ball over the Griffon keeper’s left shoulder. That goal expanded the Tiger lead to 2-0.

With the two-goal lead remaining put for a majority of the second half, Fort Hays State decided to seal the win with yet another goal in the 88th minute to ensure their advancement. Freshman Cailey Perkins captured her eighth goal of the year in front of the net following passes from Nikita Woods and Sanchez. That goal added to the Tiger lead and would hold strong until the time ran out, giving Fort Hays State a 3-0 first round win.

Things got heated at certain points in the contest as three yellow cards were handed out. In the 60th minute, a double yellow was awarded to Woods and Anika Nobs of the Griffons. The final card was passed out to Olympia Katsouridis for FHSU with less than two minutes remaining in the match.

Fort Hays State more than doubled Missouri Western’s shot attempts in the game, earning an 18-7 advantage. Perkins, Woods and Montano led all players with four shots each, followed closely by Sanchez with three of her own.

Megan Kneefel captures the win in net for the Tigers and improves her season record to 9-5-2. Alongside three saves on the night, Kneefel now owns 75 this year. Anna Mayer claims the loss for the Griffons after collecting six saves, and drops her season record to 11-5.

This win sets up a meeting with No. 1 seeded Central Oklahoma who took care of business in their first round matchup against No. 8 Washburn, 4-1. The semifinal matchup will be played in Edmond, Okla. on Friday (Nov. 2) with a time to be decided later.

Fort Hays State moved up one more spot in the D2Football.com Top 25 Media Poll on Tuesday (Oct. 30). The Tigers are No. 22 this week after holding the No. 23 ranking last week. The Tigers climbed back into the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll after their win over nationally ranked Pittsburg State in Hays and have slowly moved up the last two weeks.

Northwest Missouri State remains No. 5 in the poll for a third straight week, though it holds the No. 10 ranking in the official AFCA Poll. Pittsburg State remains at No. 25 for a second straight week in the D2Football.com Poll. Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State are both among the top teams receiving votes in the AFCA Poll. Fort Hays State travels to Northwest Missouri State this weekend, looking to keep their hopes alive for a second-straight MIAA title with a win.

Nine of the 10 teams referenced in the first release of the NCAA Super Region 3 rankings are in the D2Football.com Top 25. Super Region 3 teams make up nearly 40 percent of the Top 25.

Below is the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll for October 30, 2018.

Team Record Previous
1 Minnesota State 9-0 1
2 Ferris State 9-0 2
3 West Georgia 9-0 3
4 Ouachita Baptist 9-0 4
5 Northwest Missouri 8-1 5
6 Minnesota Duluth 9-0 6
7 Valdosta State 8-0 7
8 Grand Valley State 8-1 8
9 Colorado Mines 9-0 9
10 Tarleton State 8-0 10
11 CSU-Pueblo 8-1 12
12 West Chester 8-0 13
13 Indianapolis 7-1 14
14 Notre Dame 9-0 16
15 Tiffin 9-0 17
16 LIU-Post 8-0 18
17 Midwestern State 6-2 11
18 Central Washington 7-2 19
19 Texas A&M-Commerce 7-2 20
20 Southern Arkansas 8-1 21
21 Harding 7-2 22
22 Fort Hays State 7-2 23
23 Lenoir-Rhyne 8-1 24
24 Kutztown 7-1 15
25 Pittsburg State 7-2 25