FHSU Athletics

WACO, Texas – After sliding a bit in vote count last week, a 35-30 win over Washburn gave Fort Hays State more votes in the latest AFCA Division II Poll, released on Monday (Oct. 5). The Tigers received 17 votes this week, a climb from the six they received last week. Fort Hays State currently owns a record of 4-1 for the season.

With three teams from the MIAA in the Top 25, which includes Northwest Missouri State (No. 3), Pittsburg State (No. 13), and Emporia State (No. 18), the Tigers top a list of three MIAA schools among the receiving votes section that includes Central Missouri (4 votes) and Washburn (2 votes). This is the fifth consecutive week that the Tigers received votes in the national poll.

The Tigers get a solid test this week on the road at Missouri Western, which enters the game at 3-2. The Griffons held a 27-7 lead at halftime against Pittsburg State last week before PSU stormed back for a 31-27 win. MWSU won both of its games at home so far this season.

Below is the AFCA Division II Poll for October 5, 2015.

Rank	School (1st votes)	Record	Points	Previous
1.	Minnesota State (30)	5-0	798	1
2.	West Georgia (2)	5-0	757	2
3.	Northwest Missouri State	5-0	735	3
4.	Ferris State (Mich.)	4-0	678	4
5.	Sioux Falls (S.D.)	5-0	667	7
6.	North Alabama	4-0	643	8
7.	Colorado State-Pueblo	4-1	562	10
8.	Colorado School of Mines	5-0	558	11
9.	Ashland (Ohio)	5-0	524	13
10.	Shepherd (W.Va.)	4-0	444	14
11.	Humboldt State (Calif.)	4-0	425	16
12.	Midwestern State (Texas)	5-0	405	20
13.	Pittsburg State (Kan.)	4-1	362	15
14.	Michigan Tech	4-0	358	18t
15.	Texas A&M-Commerce	4-1	313	18t
16.	Angelo State (Texas)	4-1	306	6
17.	Delta State (Miss.)	4-1	285	5
18.	Emporia State. (Kan.)	5-0	266	23
19.	Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)	4-1	246	22
20.	Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)	4-1	243	24
21.	Valdosta State (Ga.)	3-1	225	9
22.	Harding (Ark.)	4-1	120	12
23.	Wingate (N.C.)	5-0	113	NR
24.	Grand Valley State (Mich.)	4-1	100	NR
25.	Minnesota-Duluth	3-2	89	25

Others Receiving Votes: Tuskegee (Ala.), 34; North Carolina-Pembroke, 24; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 23; Fort Hays State (Kan.), 17; Colorado Mesa, 13; Henderson State (Ark.), 10; Charleston (W.Va.), 9; Bowie State (Md.), 8; Concord (W.Va.), 8; East Central (Okla.), 8; Virginia Union, 5; Central Missouri, 4; Florida Tech, 4; Indianapolis (Ind.), 3; West Texas A&M, 3; Washburn (Kan.), 2; Arkansas Tech, 1; Bloomsburg (Pa.), 1; Findlay (Ohio), 1.

FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State handed Central Missouri its first loss of the season on Sunday at FHSU Soccer Stadium. The Tigers knocked off the No. 1 ranked team in the nation by a score of 2-1, moving to 6-4 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA.

The Tigers and Jennies (9-1, 3-1 MIAA) went scoreless through the first half, but Kelsey Steffens quickly threw momentum in Fort Hays State’s favor with a goal just 2:41 into the second half in the 48th minute. She buried a shot from the top of the box in the low left corner after taking a pass from Gabrielle Makatura.

Central Missouri, which averaged better than four goals per match entering Sunday, went scoreless until a defensive breakdown by the Tigers in the box at 69:32. Megan Woolley took advantage of an open net after the Tigers couldn’t corral a ball from Abby Rhodes, tying the match 1-1.

The Tigers were not deterred by the UCM goal as Savannah McClease put an excellent strike on the ball just over two minutes later off a blocked shot from the foot of Veronica Kurtz. The ball ricocheted up off the fingertips of the keeper, off the cross bar, and off the back side of the keeper, falling across the line into the net.

The Tiger defense closed the deal the rest of the way, giving FHSU one of its biggest wins in program history. UCM took 16 shots in the game, but only five were on goal. FHSU had just eight shots, but two of the four on goal found the net.

Kristin Thompson had four saves to move to 5-3 at goalkeeper this season. Ana Dilkes took her first loss of the season, now 9-1, with just two saves.

The Tigers will take a three-match win streak to Northeastern State next Friday. Match time is set for 7 pm in Tahlequah, Okla.

FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – The 22nd-ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team took their first loss in the MIAA and third loss overall on Sunday, falling to conference rival Northeastern State 1-0. The RiverHawks, which received votes in the latest NSCAA Poll, moved to 6-4 overall, 2-1 in the MIAA, while the Tigers are now 7-3 overall, 1-1 in the MIAA.

Fort Hays State’s biggest opportunity occurred in the 17th minute when Mauricio Castorino struck a shot that hit the post. With the goalkeeper out of place, Anthony Hernandez had plenty of daylight to bury a shot in the box, but an NSU defender perfectly placed himself on the goal line, sacrificing his body in front of a rocket strike by Hernandez to keep the match scoreless.

Neither team had many other offensive opportunities before halftime, FHSU with five shots and NSU with four, leaving the game scoreless.

Not long into the second half, Northeastern State’s Paul Samia had a fortunate stroke of luck. From 35 yards out on a free kick, Samia placed a nice ball deep into the box intended for a striker. The striker completely missed the ball, but with goalkeeper Michael Yantz expecting a shot, the free kick found its way into the net. That put NSU up 1-0 in the 51st minute.

The Tiger offense perked up in the second half registering 10 shots, but none found the net which left the score 1-0 in favor of the RiverHawks when the final horn sounded. The match was tightly contested as usual between the two squads, 15 total shots for each team. Eric Shephard moved to 6-4 on the season in goal for NSU, while Yantz dropped to 7-3 for FHSU. Each keeper had three saves in the match.

The Tigers look to rebound in their next match as they head to Fayette, Iowa on Thursday for another MIAA match against Upper Iowa.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – For a second straight week, Fort Hays State took a double-figure lead into the halftime locker room. Unlike the week prior against Pittsburg State, the Tigers were able to hold on for a 35-30 win over Washburn in front of 4,913 at Lewis Field.

It’s the Tigers first win over the Ichabods since 2008 as they improve to 4-1 for the first time under coach Chris Brown and the first time since 2009. It also keeps FHSU in a tie with Pitt State for third place in the MIAA.

Chris Brown Postgame Interview

 

Brock Long / Treveon Albert Postgame Interview

 

Game Highlights

 

The Tigers led 35-17 after three quarters, but Washburn scored 13 unanswered to pull within five with 5:22 to play. The Ichabods failed on a two-point conversion following a Mickeel Stewart three-yard touchdown run to keep the Tigers lead at five.

After the Tigers drive stalled, a 67-yard Jordan Spangler punt gave the Ichabods the ball at their own 20 yard line with 2:24 to play. They converted on fourth and 12 to keep the drive going, but three plays later, Dalton Gould broke up a pass on fourth and one to seal the win for the Tigers.

FHSU quarterback Treveon Albert had a big night, rushing for a career-high 207 yards and two touchdowns while completing 17 of 31 passes for 154 yards and two scores. Albert had runs of 54 and 51 yards which set up touchdowns. Shaquille Cooper added 94 yards on the ground while hauling in five passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Brock Long led the Tigers with a career-high 16 tackles which included four for loss and a sack. Doyin Jobowu added 12 tackles and a sack. DeAndre James had an interception and fumble recovery and added nine tackles.

The Tigers finished with 466 yards of total offense with the Ichabods adding 455 but they turned the ball over four times. The Tigers had two turnovers, both on Albert interceptions.

FHSU Athletics

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – A day after a tough straight-set loss to No. 13 Central Missouri, Fort Hays State bounced back Saturday for a 3-1 win over Lindenwood on the road. The Tiger offense was firing on all cylinders throughout the match, finishing with a .344 hitting percentage. FHSU moved to 10-7 overall, 2-3 in the MIAA, while Lindenwood fell to 8-6 overall, 1-3 in the MIAA.

The Tigers hit better than .350 in all three sets they won, taking the first, second, and fourth.  FHSU hit a scorching-hot .452 in the first set with six kills from Mallory Flagor to win 25-20. Crystal Whitten had the hot hand in the second set with six kills, helping the Tigers to a .361 hitting percentage in a 25-21 win to go up 2-0.

After falling by just two points in the third set (25-23), Flagor put down a team-best five kills in the fourth set that saw the Tigers hit .360.

Whitten finished with a team-high 20 kills and hit .421 for the match. She added 11 digs for her 10th double-double of the year. Flagor had 13 kills, while Megan Anderson hit .500 with 12 kills and six blocks. Hannah Wagy provided 51 assists (12.8 per set), while Kailey Klibbe had 12 digs. Rebekah Spainhour had a good night of serving with five aces. Sydney Dixon and Azlyn Cassaday  were also instrumental, Dixon with nine kills and a .381 hitting percentage and Cassaday with 11 digs.

Jessica Krygsheld and Bailey Dvorak each had a team-high 10 kills for Lindenwood, while Allyson Clancy added 45 assists and Anna Reichert had 12 digs.

The Tigers head to nationally ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Tuesday (Oct. 6) before returning home next weekend for matches with Emporia State and Washburn.