Fort Hays State Women's Soccer travels north this weekend to open its 2014 season against two NSIC foes.  The Tigers begin the regular season campaign on Friday (Sept. 5) in Marshall, Minn., taking on No. 21 Southwest Minnesota State at 7 p.m., before traveling to Sioux Falls, S.D., for an 11 a.m., matchup with the University of Sioux Falls on Sunday, Sept. 7.

The Tigers, 7-8-3 last year, look to return to postseason action in 2014 with a roster of 16 returners mixed in with 13 newcomers.

 
Defender Dani Harris is a returning 2013 All-MIAA selection for the Tigers, tied for the team lead in goals (four), points (10) and assists while logging just under 1,400 minutes in 18 starts.  Harris is one of two returners to start every game for the Tigers last season, joining fellow junior Gabrielle Makatura. 
 
The defensive pair will team with seniors Jamie Babyak and Laura Regnier and junior Mallory Diederich as defensive returners that limited opponents to just 20 goals last year. 
 
Senior midfielder Margaret Meier is projected to lead an experienced pack of returners in the middle.  Juniors Cenayda Guzman (two goals, one assist) and Kylee Loneker (three goals, two assists) served as key components to the Tigers success last year, seeing extensive playing time in addition to sophomore Hannah Jurgens.  As a freshman last year, Jurgens scored two goals and added four assists.
 
Offensively, four upperclassman provide an experienced core at forward, led by seniors Hailey Davey, who has looked strong in exhibitions after tallying two goals and four assists in 2013, Ember Albertson and Jordan Shaw. 
 
Junior Jordan Hester factors into the rotation as well, hoping to see a return to her 2012 form when she led the Tigers with 10 goals as an All-Region and All-MIAA selection. 
 
Additionally, Freshmen Kelsey Steffens (Greeley, Colo.) and Fiorella Fustagno (Asuncion, Paraguay) should provide a youthful spark to the rotation with ample playing time.
 
Redshirt freshman Kristen Thompson is projected to start between the pipes for the Tigers, making her Fort Hays State debut after sitting out last year.  Junior transfer Kimi Kaniaupio will see additional time in goal for the Tigers, joining the team after two seasons at Otero Junior College.
 
Southwest Minnesota State reached the finals of the NCAA Central Region Tournament last year at the helm of NSIC Coach of the Year TJ Buchholz.  The top offensive returner for the Mustangs in 2014 is sophomore Miranda Cadena, who started all 22 games last year for SMSU and let the team in points (32) and goals (13).  In the net, 2013 NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year, Brienna Dehkes, returns after posting a 15-4-2 record last season with 104 saves, allowing 15 goals.
 
Sioux Falls finished 2013 at 2-15-1, but returns its top offensive player from last season in Clara Howerton, who led the Cougars with eight points (three goals, two assists) in 2013.  In goal, Jordin Crosby played in one game last season and is one of two goalkeepers on the roster, joined by sophomore Cheyanne Carpenter.