Fort Hays State at Missouri Southern Friday, September 21, 2012 Joplin, Mo. - Hal Boden Field - 4 p.m.  Live Stats

The Fort Hays State women's soccer team is in action at Missouri Southern today (Sept. 21) at 4 p.m. in Joplin, Mo. at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
 
The Tigers have won four of their last five matches and are 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA. In their last match, the Tigers defeated Southwest Baptist, 3-0, on Sunday (Sept. 16) in Hays. Bethany Keefer led FHSU with the game-winning goal and one assist. Cindy Benitez, who was All-MIAA in 2011, and freshman Jordan Hester also scored a goal and an assist.
 
Hester leads the Tigers with three goals on the season and adds two assists. Benitez, Alexis Aiman and Kylie Watson all total two goals this season. Keefer has a team-high three assists.
 
The Tiger defense has been impressive, allowing only two goals in six games with one of them coming on an own goal. Opponents averaged 0.33 goals per game against FHSU. Defenders Jamie Babyak, who was All-MIAA in 2011, and freshman Chandler Zitzmann have started all six games and anchor the back line. The goalkeepers of Nicole Barnaba and Rachael Schaad have split time with each getting three starts. The duo has identical 0.33 goals against averages and 2-1 records, including two shutouts each.
 
The Lions are winless so far in 2012, with a 0-5-1 (0-2 MIAA) record. The tie was against Missouri-St. Louis with the losses against Quincy (4-1), Southern Nazarene (2-0), Abilene Christian (2-0), Central Oklahoma (1-0) and Northeastern State (4-2). MSSU's defense has struggled, allowing 2.5 goals a game. The offense is scoring less than one goal a game at 0.83. Megan Stueve leads the offense with two goals, the only Lion with multiple goals.
 
Today's match is the second all-time meeting between the two programs. The Lions won, 2-1, in overtime on Oct. 8, 2011 in Joplin, Mo.
 
After today's match, the Tigers return home for three-straight home matches. FHSU starts the homestand with a non-conference tilt against Friends University on Monday (Sept. 24) at 4 p.m. at the FHSU Soccer Stadium.