The Fort Hays State men's soccer team plays in the NCAA Tournament Third Round on Friday (Nov. 16) against host No. 22 Northeastern State at 7 p.m. at DeLoache Field in Tahlequah, Okla. In the other third round match, No. 4 Rockhurst (18-2-2) takes on No. 12 Saginaw Valley State (15-2-4) at 4 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 16).
The two winners play on Sunday (Nov. 18) at 1 p.m. at DeLoache Field with the winner advancing to the Evans, Ga. for the NCAA Semifinals and Championship on Nov. 29-Dec. 1.
The Tigers were last in action in the MIAA Semifinals on Nov. 1 where FHSU dropped a tight 2-1 match to Lindenwood. LU went on to win the MIAA Tournament Championship with a 1-0 victory over Northeastern State. Before the loss, the Tigers had a four-match unbeaten streak.
During the four-match streak, FHSU played to a 1-1 draw with Northeastern State in Sept. 9 in Tahlequah, Okla. The two teams met twice this season with the Tigers holding a 1-0-1 advantage. In Hays on Sept. 20, FHSU won, 3-2, on a double overtime goal by
Tomas Mares, his second of the match.
The Tigers are 2-1-1 all-time against the Riverhawks in two seasons with each match being decided by one goal or less. NSU won, 1-0, in the first meeting on Sept. 9, 2011. The match was the Tigers' first road match in their short history. FHSU evened the series at 1-1 last season with a 2-1 victory on Senior Day (Oct. 30, 2011) in Hays.
Tomas Mares led the Tigers in scoring this season, totaling 11 goals and two assists. Mares garnered All-MIAA Second Team along with
Michael Cole (five goals, three assists) and
Diego Cabral, who led FHSU with seven assists and was third in goals with seven.
Daniel Peralta provided 10 goals to the Tiger attack, and he earned All-MIAA First Team.
Tanner Brock was the only unanimous selection to the All-MIAA First Team and defender
Eric Hymer also garnered First Team All-MIAA. Goalkeeper
Kent Freund earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention.
The Tigers won 11 matches for the second consecutive season in their two year history. In 2011, FHSU inaugural season, the Tigers went 11-5-2. The Tigers are currently 11-5-2 in 2012 and went 7-2-1 in the MIAA.
