After surviving in the late minutes of Wednesday’s contest against Central Christian, the Fort Hays State men’s basketball team sets its sights west as they travel to Colorado for a Friday night tilt against 9th-ranked Colorado School of Mines. The Tigers head into the game at 2-1 after a 64-57 win over Central Christian. The Orediggers hold a 2-0 record in the early season.

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FHSU was able to get past their cold shooting night against Central Christian to get their second win of the season. Although the Tigers only shot 29.6% from the field, Fort Hays State was able to secure the close win in the closing minutes. For the Tigers, their rebounding, on both sides of the ball, has given them the advantage over opponents. FHSU is out-rebounding opponents 115-98 through the first three games of the season.

Brady Werth leads the Tigers in scoring as he averages a team-high 20 points per game. Marcus Cooper (12.7) and Hadley Gillum (10.3) also top the scoring charge for FHSU as they both average double-digits. The trio also holds the team advantage in the rebounding department with Werth collecting 5.7 per game and Cooper and Gillum bringing down 6.0 per game each.

Colorado Mines, ranked No. 9 in NCAA Division II, starts the season at 2-0 after collecting two victories at Regis University last weekend. The Orediggers earned an 82-78 win over Lubbock Christian, followed by a double-digit victory over St. Mary’s, 67-53. Four Orediggers average double-digit scoring through the two wins, led by Luke Schroepfer netting 15.5 a game. Ben Sonnefeld, Duke Douglas and Ben Clare all account for 11.5 per contest. Rebounding has been an early-season struggle for Colorado Mines as its opponents have the advantage at 65-54 over the Orediggers.

Colorado Mines defeated Fort Hays State on a buzzer beater last year in Hays, 70-67, breaking a tie when a desperation 3-point attempt banked in as time expired. In last year’s meeting, Colorado Mines held the No. 21 ranking nationally. FHSU has a huge advantage in the all-time series, though, at 35-6.

The contest in Golden is set for a 7 p.m. MST/ 8 p.m. CST tip off from Lockridge Arena on the Colorado Mines campus.

Gross Memorial Coliseum will be the scene for the 2017-18 home opener for the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team, with the Tigers hosting a pair of Division II non-conference opponents this weekend. FHSU will face off with Colorado-Colorado Springs on Friday (Nov. 17) at 7 p.m. before turning around and matching up with Newman on Saturday (Nov. 18) at 4 p.m.

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There will be a total of four games played in the Coliseum this weekend, with Nebraska-Kearney playing the Jets on Friday and UCCS on Saturday two hours prior to FHSU’s first tip.

The Tigers (2-0) opened the season on a high note last weekend, cruising past regional opponents Upper Iowa and Southwest Minnesota State. FHSU is outscoring its opponents by 38 points per game during this young season, sixth best in the country. The Tigers held the first two opponents to an average of 37 points per contest, second fewest nationally and tops in the conference.

Kacey Kennett led the Tigers offensively over the first weekend of action, scoring 15 points in both contests. Tatyana Legette ranks ninth in the conference with 8.5 rebounds per contest so far this year, while transfer Gokce Aslan dished out five assists in Saturday’s win over SMSU.

The Tigers have won 13 consecutive home openers dating back to the start of the 2003-04 season, going 21-4 in home openers since joining Division II in 1992-93. The home crowds inside the Coliseum have helped the Tigers to a 76-4 record at home over the last five seasons. Fort Hays State has won its last 40 regular season non-conference games.

FHSU vs UC-Colorado Springs • Friday, November 17 • 7 p.m. • FHSU leads all-time series, 6-4
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
Colorado-Colorado Springs (0-2) returns two starters from last year’s team that won the RMAC Tournament championship to qualify for the NCAA Division II tournament for the third year in a row. Kristen Vigil is the top returning scorer for the Cougars after averaging 4.3 points per game last season. UCCS lost three all-conference performers to graduation and its top five scorers. Shanah Leaf has averaged 15.0 points per game so far this season, while Maddie Golla has grabbed 8.5 rebounds per game through the first two contests.

This is the first meeting between the former Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rivals since 2005, FHSU’s final season in the RMAC. The Tigers are riding a three-game winning streak in the series and are 4-1 against UCCS in Hays.

FHSU vs Newman • Saturday, November 18 • 4 p.m. • FHSU leads all-time series, 14-1
Hays, Kan. • Gross Memorial Coliseum
The Jets are off to a 4-0 start after going 19-9 a year ago, good for sixth in the Heartland Conference. Guard Hannah Alexander was named on the preseason All-Heartland Conference team after picking up first team All-Conference accolades a year ago. The senior leads the team with 15.3 points per game on 49 percent shooting so far this season. Forward Abbey George is averaging 6.5 rebounds per contest in her redshirt-freshman season.

The Tigers have never lost to Newman at home, going 9-0 against the Jets in the Coliseum. The lone NU victory in the series came in 2010, with Fort Hays State winning the last four contests.

PHILIPPI, W.Va. – The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team ended their season with a heartbreaking loss after allowing the game-winning goal to Northeastern State in the final minute of regulation to fall to the RiverHawks 2-1 in the Central Region Final on Thursday (Nov. 16). The Tigers ended the year with an overall record of 11-6-2. Northeastern State took the season series two games to one and now lead the all-time series 7-6-5 in the six years between the teams.

The first half was a defensive battle between the Tigers and the RiverHawks as the two teams used their scouting reports to their advantage as both teams won on their home pitch in the previous two matches. However, this time it was as neutral as one could get with the Central Region Final on the home field of Alderson Broaddus University in Philippi, West Virginia.

The teams could not take advantage of the limited scoring opportunities as the first 45 minutes ended with no score. The Tigers were outshot by the RiverHawks 6-4 in the first period.

The RiverHawks benefitted from a free kick opportunity as Joe Garcia found the back of the net from 20 yards out after beating Tiger goalkeeper Michael Yantz over his head and to his right. Northeastern State lead 1-0 in the 47th minute of the match.

Abdoulaye Cisse netted the equalizer in the 67th minute of the match to make it a 1-1 ball game. Raul Fierro set Cisse up for his ninth goal of the season and Fierro picked up his third assist of the year. Both teams were getting a little chippy at this point in the match as each team received at least 15 fouls on the night.

Northeastern State was able to slip past the Tiger defense in the final minute as Jacob Weaver scored the game-winning goal with 41 seconds remaining in the match. The Tigers were unable to get another shot off and time expired.

Yantz took the loss in goal tonight for the Tigers as his record dipped to 8-5-2 on the season. Yantz ends his time with the Tiger soccer program as the leader in victories in a career as a goalkeeper (29), the most shutouts in a career (14), the most goalkeeper matches started and played in (50) and the second most saves in a career with 180.

Senior Derick Gonzalez’s streak of 15 consecutive matches with a point was snapped after the RiverHawks were double and triple covering him most the evening as none of his teammates were able to give him a good look. Gonzalez career at Fort Hays State ended with a bitter loss to a familiar foe, however he lead the team in goals scored (10), assists (14), points (34), shots (48) and tied Cisse with three game-winning goals on the season. Gonzalez also owns the program record for most assists in a single season with 14 and ranks second in total points in a season in school history with 34, just one point behind Ricardo Yeverino who tallied 35 in 2011.

Killian Gorman completed his senior campaign by leading the Tigers in minutes played on the pitch this year with 1,627 total minutes as a rock on the Tiger defense. Gorman amassed a total of 5,311 minutes played on the soccer field in his career as a Tiger.

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State outscored Central Christian College 15-3 over the final 7:18, erasing a five-point deficit, for a 64-57 win in their homer opener Wednesday night at Gross Coliseum. The Tigers, who shot under 30-percent for the game, built an eight point lead early in the second half only to see CCC answer with a 20-5 run to take the lead with a little over 10 minutes to play.

Mark Johnson Postgame Postgame Interview

Marcus Cooper Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Brady Werth led Fort Hays State with 18 points pulled down a team best nine rebounds. He fueled the comeback by scoring eight straight points. Werth hit just three of his 12 field goal attempts but connected on 12 of 14 free throws.

Marcus Cooper added 17 points and eight boards while Trey O’Neil scored all 11 of his points in the second half. O’Neil hit three of the Tigers five 3-pointers including one with 4:38 to play to put Fort Hays State in front.

FHSU (2-1) outrebounded Central Christian by 12 and scored 14 points off of 17 offensive rebounds.

Kyler Kinnamon dished out four the Tigers 13 assists on their 16 made baskets.

FHSU hits is in Golden, Colorado Friday to face No. 9 Colorado School of Mines.

Eden Stoddard represented Fort Hays State on the D2CCA All-Central Region Team after being recognized on the First Team for her success during her senior campaign. The team is voted on by media relations directors within the Central Region. Stoddard was the only Tiger player this season to receive mention on the team.

Stoddard, the Young, Australia native and transfer from Larimer County Community College was also named to the All-MIAA First Team earlier. The senior secured her place on the All-Central Region Team after accounting for eight goals on the season and helping to lead her Tiger squad to a 10-6-4 overall record and 7-3-1 mark in the MIAA. Alongside her team-high eight goals, Stoddard recorded a team-tying five assists to accumulate 21 points during to conclude her senior campaign.

During her time as a Tiger the past two seasons, Stoddard has amassed 15 goals, six assists and 52 total points. Last season, Stoddard was named All-MIAA Second Team. This recognition is the first All-Central Region honor for the senior.

This is the second-consecutive season FHSU has landed a player on the D2CCA All-Central Region Team as last season Hannah Smith (First Team) and Baylie Schmitz (Second Team) also earned honors. All-time, Stoddard is now the seventh Tiger to be named on an All-Region Team, and just the third First Team honoree for the program.

2017 D2 CCA Women’s Soccer Central Region Awards

D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year
Alimata Rabo, So., Southwestern Oklahoma State, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

D2CCA All-Central Region First Team
Pos Name School Yr Hometown
F Alimata Rabo * Southwestern Oklahoma State So. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
F Jada Scott *$ Central Missouri Jr. Bel Aire, Kan.
F Abby Rhodes Central Missouri Sr. Olathe, Kan.
F Rachel Norton Bemidji State Jr. Mounds View, Minn.
M Baylie Edwards Central Missouri Sr. Lee’s Summit, Mo.
M Bethany Sutherland *^ Harding Jr. Orange, Calif.
M Eden Stoddard Fort Hays State Sr. Young, Australia
M Hannah White Oklahoma Baptist Fr. Norman, Okla.
D Kayla Hamner * Central Missouri Sr. Shawnee, Kan.
D Jennifer Goethe Oklahoma Baptist Jr. Shawnee, Okla.
D Miranda Famestad Bemidji State Sr. Sioux Falls, S.D.
D Abby Nordeen $ Minnesota State Sr. Cherry Valley, Ill.
GK Ana Dilkes *^! Central Missouri Sr. Wichita, Kan.

D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team
Pos Name School Yr Hometown
F Cassidy Menke Missouri Western Jr. O’Fallon, Mo.
F Sandra Nabweteme * Southwestern Oklahoma State So. Kampala, Uganda
F Ruth King Southwestern Oklahoma State So. Shawnee, Okla.
F Jenny Hoeter Minnesota State Sr. Stevens Point, Wisc.
M Megan Woolley *$ Central Missouri Sr. Kansas City, Kan.
M Alesha Duccini Minnesota State So. Dubuque, Iowa
M Madeline Cowell Missouri Western Jr. St. Louis, Mo.
M Dani Nelson Bemidji State Jr. Woodbury, Minn.
D Bridget Blessie Missouri Western Sr. Papilion, Neb.
D Erica Brunet Southwestern Oklahoma State Jr. Brampton, Ont.
D Rebekah Thoresen Augustana Jr. Minnetonka, Minn.
D Becca Gleason Northeastern State Sr. Lucas, Texas
GK Taylor Livermore Minnesota State Jr. Muscatine, Iowa

* = 2016 All-Central Region First Team
^ = 2015 All-Central Region First Team
$ = 2015 All-Central Region Second Team
! = 2014 All-Central Region Second Team

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State had six men’s soccer student-athletes named to the D2CCA All-Central Region Team on Wednesday (Nov. 15). The team is voted on by athletic media relations directors within the Central Region. Derick Gonzalez earned Central Region Player of the Year honors and joining him on the first team is forward Abdoulaye Cisse and defender Killian Gorman. Second team selections went to forward Raul Fierro, midfielder Luis Mendez, and defender Luis Torres.

Named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Player of the Year and an All-MIAA First Team selection at midfielder, Gonzalez finished the regular season with a region-best 34 points, scoring 10 goals and adding 14 assists. The senior from Houston, Texas ranked 12th nationally in total points and second nationally in total assists as of November 6. Gonzalez enters the NCAA Tournament on a school record 15-match streak of recording at least one point (goal or assist).

Cisse has also been a force offensively for the Tigers with 23 points (8 goals, 7 assists). He ranks second on the team behind Gonzalez in both goals and assists. At one point in the season, Cisse had six consecutive matches with a goal. The Dallas, Texas junior was also an All-MIAA First Team selection this season.

Gorman, a senior from Manhattan, Kansas, is in his final year with the Tigers. He has been a constant in the Tiger lineup as a defender the last three years. He is helping the Tigers limit the opposition to 1.07 goals per match this year. Gorman also earned All-MIAA First Team honors.

Fierro, a junior from El Paso, Texas, is in his first year with the program. He has 16 points so far with seven goals and two assists. He had a hat-trick against Southwest Baptist in Hays on September 22. He was an all-conference second team selection.

Mendez, a first-team all-conference selection, earns second-team honors in the region this year after a first-team selection last year. Mendez was the MIAA Freshman of the Year last year and has done a solid job in the midfield once again with eight points this season (2 goals, 4 assists).

Torres, a D2CCA All-America selection last year, earns second-team honors in the region this year. Torres and Gorman were the only Tigers to log more than 1,500 minutes on the pitch during the regular season. Torres has four points with a goal and two assists.

Below is the 2017 D2CCA All-Central Region Team.

2017 D2CCA Men’s Soccer All-Central Region Team

First Team
Pos Name School Yr Hometown
GK Ryan Davis Northeastern State Sr. Dublin, Ireland
F Tinashe Chigede Ouachita Baptist Sr. Tulsa, Okla.
F Michele Ganz Lindenwood Fr. Agordo, Italy
F Abdoulaye Cisse Fort Hays State Jr. Dallas, Texas
F Thiago Dos Santos Oklahoma Baptist So. Natal, Brazil
MF Derick Gonzalez Fort Hays State Sr. Houston, Texas
MF Joe Garcia Northeastern State Jr. Grand Prairie, Texas
MF Gabriel Jaimes Lindenwood Sr. Pro La Cruz, Venezuela
MF Jason Diaz Harding Sr. Waco, Texas
D Christian Ramos Harding So. Denton, Texas
D Aaron Craig Harding Sr. Forney, Texas
D Killian Gorman Fort Hays State Sr. Manhattan, Kan.
D David Estrada Oklahoma Baptist Sr. Cancun, Mexico

Second Team
Pos Name School Yr Hometown
GK Tim Licht Lindenwood So. Munster, Germany
F Luis Romero Oklahoma Baptist Jr. Zaragoza, Spain
F Ruairidh Crawford Upper Iowa Sr. West Linton, Scotland
F Raul Fierro Fort Hays State Jr. El Paso, Texas
F Andre Cunha Harding Sr. Cristalina, Brazil
MF Alejandro Castillo Oklahoma Baptist So. Peralta, Spain
MF Luis Mendez Fort Hays State So. Arlington, Texas
MF Blaine Hickman Ouachita Baptist Sr. Royse City, Texas
MF Italo Martins Soares Upper Iowa Fr. Brasilia, Brazil
D Tyler Mouton Ouachita Baptist Sr. Flower Mound, Texas
D Luis Torres Fort Hays State Jr. Asuncion, Paraguay
D Jeremy Tutas Lindenwood Sr. Kewaskum, Wis.
D James Doyle Northeastern State Fr. Merseyside, England

Central Region Player of the Year: Derick Gonzalez, Fort Hays State, Sr., MF (Houston, Texas)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three student-athletes from the Fort Hays State volleyball team were named All-MIAA performers for their performance during the 2017 season, released Tuesday (Nov. 14) by the league office. Callie Christensen, Taylor White and Magan Alexander all earned a spot on the honorable mention list.

Christensen earned All-MIAA accolades for the second time after being named to the second team as a junior. The middle hitter led the league with 151 total blocks, averaging 1.19 per set. The senior led the Tigers with a .217 attack percentage, picking up a career-high 253 kills on the year. She now has 413 blocks for her career, ranking third at FHSU during the Division II era.

White picked up All-MIAA honors in her redshirt-freshman season, becoming the first Tiger freshman to earn all-conference accolades since 2015. The libero led the team and ranked fourth in the conference with 594 digs, averaging 4.71 digs per set. The Silver Lake, Kan. native picked up the most digs by a freshman in the program’s Division II history, crushing the previous record by 184 digs (410).

Alexander received All-MIAA honors for the first time, earning the honor after recording 245 kills and 27 blocks during her sophomore campaign. The outside hitter averaged 2.63 kills per set, second-best on the team, while posting three service aces.