ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Fort Hays State women’s soccer team controlled the whole 90 minutes of play Friday evening (Oct. 11), improving its record to 7-3 (3-1 MIAA) after a 3-0 shutout of Missouri Western. The Tigers have won three straight conference games, all on the road, after dropping their league opener last month. Missouri Western falls to 4-6-1 and 1-3 in conference play.

The Tigers got on the board early and never let up, taking a two-goal lead in the first half. In the 15th minute, Jenna Prince intercepted a pass at the top of the penalty box and lofted a shot over the head of the keeper and into the net for her second goal of the year. Darby Hirsch followed Prince just three minutes later with her fourth of the 2019 season. Chloe Montano ripped a free kick from midfield that fell perfectly into Hirsch’s lap inside the 18-yard box. Hirsch cashed in on the chance, firing a shot into the upper left corner to hand FHSU held a 2-0 lead before halftime.

Fort Hays State struck again nine minutes into the second half when Zariah Smith picked up her first goal of the year. The junior took in a pass and made one move past a defender before sending a bullet screaming just inside the far post from 20 yards out. The defense and Megan Kneefel tightened up down the stretch, holding MWSU to just three second-half shots to give the Tigers their seventh victory of the year. Of those seven victories, the Tigers have only allowed one goal, tallying six clean sheets on the year.

FHSU fired off 13 shots, with seven of those on target. Cailey Perkins led the team with four shots and two shots on goal. Megan Kneefel (6-2) stopped all four of Missouri Western’s shots on goal for her 14th career shutout, just one shy of second place all-time.

The Tigers remain in second place in the MIAA standings with the win, moving within one point of the top spot.

The Tigers look to continue their hot streak on Sunday (Oct. 13) in Maryville, Mo. Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State are set to kick off at 1 p.m.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Fort Hays State women’s soccer team controlled the whole 90 minutes of play Friday evening (Oct. 11), improving its record to 7-3 (3-1 MIAA) after a 3-0 shutout of Missouri Western. The Tigers have won three straight conference games, all on the road, after dropping their league opener last month. Missouri Western falls to 4-6-1 and 1-3 in conference play.

The Tigers got on the board early and never let up, taking a two-goal lead in the first half. In the 15th minute, Jenna Prince intercepted a pass at the top of the penalty box and lofted a shot over the head of the keeper and into the net for her second goal of the year. Darby Hirsch followed Prince just three minutes later with her fourth of the 2019 season. Chloe Montano ripped a free kick from midfield that fell perfectly into Hirsch’s lap inside the 18-yard box. Hirsch cashed in on the chance, firing a shot into the upper left corner to hand FHSU held a 2-0 lead before halftime.

Fort Hays State struck again nine minutes into the second half when Zariah Smith picked up her first goal of the year. The junior took in a pass and made one move past a defender before sending a bullet screaming just inside the far post from 20 yards out. The defense and Megan Kneefel tightened up down the stretch, holding MWSU to just three second-half shots to give the Tigers their seventh victory of the year. Of those seven victories, the Tigers have only allowed one goal, tallying six clean sheets on the year.

FHSU fired off 13 shots, with seven of those on target. Cailey Perkins led the team with four shots and two shots on goal. Megan Kneefel (6-2) stopped all four of Missouri Western’s shots on goal for her 14th career shutout, just one shy of second place all-time.

The Tigers remain in second place in the MIAA standings with the win, moving within one point of the top spot.

The Tigers look to continue their hot streak on Sunday (Oct. 13) in Maryville, Mo. Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State are set to kick off at 1 p.m.

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State men’s soccer netted three goals on Thursday night in its victory over Oklahoma Baptist, 3-1. The home match win marks the 21st consecutive victory at FHSU Soccer Stadium for the Tigers.

Fort Hays State controlled the majority of play in the first half. Santiago Agudelo began the scoring for the Tigers. In the 28th minute, Mauricio Etcheverry sent a cross into the box, finding Agudelo sprinting to the near post. The senior forward finished off the play with a diving header to redirect the ball into the back of the net.

Just three minutes later, Agudelo collected another mark on the scoresheet. From midfield, Agudelo sent a through ball to Arsenio Chamorro up the left side, who was pressuring the back line of the Bison defense. Seeing that Chamorro was set free, the striker followed the play and was ultimately rewarded on a smooth grounded cross from Chamorro to put the Tigers up, 2-0.

Coming out of halftime, the Bison used the wind at their back and increased pressure aggressively. Only taking two shots in the first half, Oklahoma Baptist rebounded by adding another 11 in the final 45 minutes. In the 72nd minute, the Bison managed to grab a goal of their own. Alejandro Castillo fired his shot from 35-yards past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Kieran Brown and into the top left corner of the goal.

Only at a one goal deficit, Oklahoma Baptist added even more intensity to their play. However, the intensity was handled well by the Tigers’ back four of McCain, Bevis, Walther, and Benitez. In the 84th minute, FHSU turned their defense into offensive poise. Senior Ross Boyd beat his defender down the right sideline and swung a grounded cross around the Bison defenders, who were sprinting to get back. Boyd’s cross reached the feet of Alonso Rodriguez who tapped the ball in past the keeper for the final goal of the night.

With the victory, the Tigers improve to 6-3-1 overall and 5-0-1 in the Great American Conference.

Fort Hays State totaled nine shots on Thursday night and only needed four saves by Brown at the other end of the field.

In his 86 minutes of play, Agudelo netted his eighth and ninth goals of the season, moving into the top-five of goal scorers across the entirety of NCAA Division II.

FHSU will be back in action on Saturday (Oct. 10) when they travel to Bethany, Okla. to go head-to-head with Southern Nazarene. That match is slated for a 4 p.m. kickoff.

The MIAA held its annual basketball media day Wednesday at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City.

After finishing 32-2 last season and claiming both the MIAA regular season and tournament championship the Tiger women were picked first in both the coaches and media polls.

The Tiger men return six players from last year’s 18-11 season and were picked fourth in both polls.

Tiger women’s coach Tony Hobson and men’s coach Mark Johnson addressed the media Wednesday and you can hear their comments below.

Hobson and Johnson press conference

Tony Hobson

Mark Johnson

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball received a pick of fourth in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls, released on Wednesday during MIAA Basketball Media Day at The College Basketball Experience. The Tigers were tabbed in the position where they finished last season.

Defending national champion Northwest Missouri State topped both polls following an undefeated 38-0 season. The top four remained consistent in both polls with Missouri Southern second, Washburn third, and Fort Hays State fourth. The top four of the polls nearly mirrors how the regular season standings finished last year, the only difference is Washburn finished second and Missouri Southern finished third in conference play. From fifth through 14th, picks vary in the polls.

Fort Hays State is coming off an 18-11 season in 2018-19. The Tigers went 12-7 in MIAA play to finish alone in fourth place. FHSU saw its season end in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals. The Tigers lost all three of their all-conference performers from last year, which included Brady Werth, Marcus Cooper, and Kyler Kinnamon.

The Tigers have six returners to the squad this season, however, only four were on the floor last year as two redshirted. Aaron Nicholson is the top returning scorer from last year. He averaged 9.0 points per game and led the team in 3-point field goals made (45). Devin Davis is the top scorer off the bench from last year, who averaged 8.6 points per contest. Jared Vitztum is the top returning rebounder, who pulled down 5.3 per game while chipping in 7.3 points per game. Nyjee Wright also returns after scoring 4.8 points per game last year.

Mark Johnson enters his 19th year guiding the Tigers. He is the longest tenured coach in the program’s history and also the program’s all-time wins leader with a career record of 359-172. He has led the Tigers to three conference titles and seven NCAA Tournament appearances.

Johnson brought in eight newcomers to this year’s squad. Five of the newcomers are transfers, while three are true freshmen.

The first action for FHSU will be on Thursday, October 24 in an exhibition contest at the University of Kansas. Tipoff is set for 7 pm at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.

Men’s Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (13) – 169 points
2. Missouri Southern (1) – 157 points
3. Washburn – 131 points
4. Fort Hays State – 124 points
5. Northeastern State – 99 points
6. Central Missouri – 96 points
7. Lincoln – 93 points
8. Pittsburg State – 92 points
9. Rogers State – 68 points
10. Emporia State – 66 points
11. Newman – 61 points
12. Missouri Western – 58 points
13. Central Oklahoma – 44 points
14. Nebraska Kearney – 16 points

Men’s Media Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (19) – 279 points
2. Missouri Southern (1) – 259 points
3. Washburn – 238 points
4. Fort Hays State – 198 points
5. Pittsburg State – 183 points
6. Lincoln – 156 points
7. Central Missouri – 140 points
8. Emporia State – 123 points
9. Missouri Western – 120 points
10. Newman – 103 points
11. Rogers State – 102 points
12. Northeastern State – 88 points
13. Nebraska Kearney – 64 points
14. Central Oklahoma- 46 points