With only two-more regular season MIAA matches this weekend, the Fort Hays State women's soccer team is hoping to bounce back from two-consecutive conference losses. The Tigers are now 8-5-3 overall alongside a 5-3-1 MIAA record, good enough for a fourth-place standing in the conference at this point in the season. The hopes for hosting an MIAA tournament match is still alive, as those hopes ride on how the final regular-season weekend ends up.
 
In their previous two matches, the Tigers suffered a 1-0 loss to Northeastern State, followed by a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Central Oklahoma. FHSU's last win fell back on Oct. 13 as they captured a 2-1 victory over Southwest Baptist.
 
As the regular-season is coming to a close, the Tigers have out-scored their opponents 21-14 in their 16 matches. FHSU has also out-shot all opponents 191-174 with 90 hitting near target. Eden Stoddard remains as the highest goal scorer for the Tigers as she has netted eight goals, also good for No. 7 in the MIAA in the category. Stoddard also ranks third in the conference in both shots and shots per game with 52 and 3.25. Senior Darby Hirsch maintains a sixth-place hold in assists with five on the season. In goal for the Tigers, Megan Kneefel ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in saves as she has captured 41 total.
 
The Tigers first meet up with Nebraska-Kearney for a Friday night contest (Oct. 27) as they host the matchup. FHSU and the Lopers have already met this season, as UNK took the 1-0 overtime win to hand the Tigers their first loss of the season. Last season, FHSU and UNK tied in the first contest, as they Tigers went on to take the regular-season match 3-0. This season, the Lopers are 4-9-3 overall and rank No. 11 in the current MIAA standings with a 1-7-1 record. On Oct. 20, Nebraska-Kearney picked up its first victory since Sept. 14 as they earned a 1-0 shutout win over Central Oklahoma. On the season, the Lopers have been outscored 22-9 against opponents, while outshooting those same opponents 168-165. Megan Cook and Molly Willis lead the way for the Lopers as they have each netted a team-high two goals this season. In goal, Ali Hirschman has collected 52 saves, good for ninth place in the MIAA and the lead her fellow UNK goalkeepers.
 
Sunday will face the Tigers off with the Ichabods as Washburn hosts the regular-season finale for both teams. The Ichabods enter the weekend with a 9-6-1 overall record and 5-4-0 mark in MIAA play. Washburn captured an early-season non-conference win over the Tigers 1-0 this season. Last season, the two programs split the season meetings, ending with a 3-0 win for the Tigers to close out last year's regular-season. The Tigers are right ahead of Washburn in the MIAA current standings. This season, the Ichabods have 23 goals to their name, bettering their opponents 17 against them. The Ichabods are led by Ellie Karloff who has five goals to her name this season. Kaitlin Minich has held down the anchor in goal for Washburn as she owns a 9-6-0 record with 83 saves.
 
Friday night's home match against Nebraska-Kearney will also serve as Senior Day for five women's soccer players. That match is set for kick-off at 7 p.m. On Sunday, the road match against Washburn will commence at 1 p.m. in Topeka.