The Fort Hays State men's soccer team is set to hit the pitch for the first time in more than 15 months on Saturday (Feb. 27) when the Tigers open their spring season with a home match against the Newman Jets at 3:30 p.m.

Fans will be permitted inside FHSU Soccer Stadium free of charge for Saturday's matchup. Fans in attendance will be required to adhere to all FHSU health and safety expectations, including but not limited to facial coverings when appropriate, social distancing, hygiene, self-monitoring and symptom checking.

Due to the cancellation of the fall 2020 NCAA Division II Championships, the league agreed to play a shortened schedule in the spring. The Tigers will play each GAC school once, totaling six league games before ultimately ending with the GAC conference Tournament on April 10 (semi-finals) and April 17 (finals).

Out of the six games, Fort Hays will play on their home turf twice, battling Newman Saturday and Northeastern State on March 27. The team will play true road games against Southern Nazarene (March 13) and Rogers State (April 3) while playing Ouachita Baptist (March 6) and Harding (March 20) on a neutral pitch in Claremore, Okla. FHSU will also host Barton CC in a non-conference matchup on March 23.

The Tigers return five players from 2019 squad, including the 2019 GAC/MIAA Freshman of the Year in Alec Bevis and lone senior Antonio De La Torre. This year's team is incredibly young, with freshmen and sophomores taking up 22 of the 23 roster spots. FHSU added 18 new players this year, including 17 freshmen and one transfer. Saturday will be the first intercollegiate action for the Fort Hays State men's soccer team in 464 days.