The Fort Hays State women's soccer team opens the 2012 season on the road at UC-Colorado Springs on Friday, August 31 at 7 pm (mountain time)/6 pm (central time). The Lady Tigers follow that with a match at CSU-Pueblo on Sunday, September 2 at 11 am (mountain time)/10 am (central time).

The Lady Tigers had three exhibition matches leading into the season, going 2-0-1. That included wins over Butler (Kan.) Community College, the preseason No. 4 ranked team in junior college, and Bethany College. FHSU tied Kansas Wesleyan, the preseason No. 23 team in NAIA, in the final exhibition this past Sunday.

The Tigers return three All-MIAA selections from last year in midfielder Cindy Benitez, forward Joanne Glynn, and defender Jamie Babyak. Glynn, a junior this year, led FHSU in goals in 2011 with nine. Benitez, a senior this year, tied Glynn for the team lead in points with seven goals and six assists. Babyak had one goal and two assists to her credit as a true freshman.

Glynn led the team in goals in the three preseason games with three. Margaret Meier and Nicole Randall each had two goals. Meier and Benitez each had two assists over the three contests.

Fort Hays State is coming off a 6-11-1 record last year, which included a 2-6 mark in MIAA play to finish seventh. FHSU looks to improve on the road this season, where they went just 2-7 last year.

The Tigers are playing at UC-Colorado Springs for the second straight year, where they lost 2-1 in overtime last year. They meet CSU-Pueblo for the first time on Sunday.

Fort Hays State is looking for a win in the season opener for the second straight year after defeating Newman 1-0 in the opener last year in Hays.