The second-seeded Fort Hays State University men's soccer team kicks off the MIAA Tournament on Thurday (Nov. 7) with a 4 p.m. matchup against third-seeded Northeastern State.
 
The Tigers finished the regular season at 11-4-2 overall and 6-1-2 in the MIAA, with both draws coming against NSU (10-2-4, 6-1-2 MIAA).  FHSU and the RiverHawks played to a 2-2 tie in Sept. 26 in Tahlequah, Okla., and a 0-0 draw on Oct. 24 in Hays, Kan..
 
Seniors Ricardo Yeverino and Daniel Peralta and junior Diego Cabral have played a key role in the Tigers' offensive success this season.  Yeverino leads the squad with 25 points (10 goals, five assists) while Cabral's 22 points (eight goals, six assists) is second.  Peralta netted his fourth and fifth goals of the season last week at Southern Nazarene, and has 14 points for the season (five goals, four assists).
 
Eric Hymer has played the most minutes among the team, logging 1,604 in the defender position, just 15 more than defensive teammate Carlos Linares (1,589 minutes).
 
Between the pipes, Jason Babyak has racked up 41 saves while compiling an 8-2-1 record.  Kent Freund has split time with Babyak in the net and has a 0.80 goals against per game average. 
 
The MIAA Tournament is held at the College Boulevard Activities Complex in Olathe, Kan.  The winner between FHSU and NSU will face the winner of the other semi-final (No. 1 seed Lindenwood versus No. 4 seed Upper Iowa) in the championship match at 11 a.m. on Saturday (Oct. 9).