Fort Hays State Men's Soccer is gearing up for a crucial set of contests at home this week, with a matchup against Ouachita Baptist on Thursday (Oct. 19) at 7 p.m., followed by a clash against Harding on Saturday (Oct. 21) at 11 a.m.  
 
The Tigers enter Thursday's contest with a season record of 4-6-2, including a 3-2-2 record in conference play. Their recent home match against Rogers State ended in a loss, but the team is determined to bounce back in conference play. Fort Hays State has shown promise this season, scoring a total of 16 goals in 12 matches and maintaining a 42.2% shots-on-goal percentage. Leading the charge in the scoring department is graduate student Blake Arndt, who currently ranks seventh in the GAC with four goals. Tadhg Walsh and Alex Plimmer have also made significant contributions, each tallying three goals. Scott Pengelly has been the man in goal the past four games for the team and has 16 saves in that time. The Tigers have displayed excellent teamwork, registering a total of 15 assists, with Pablo Orozco's three leading the team. 
 
On the opposing side, Ouachita Baptist comes into the matchup with a season record of 0-10-3 (0-5-2 GAC). OBU currently sits at the bottom of the GAC standings. Jordan Ebon and Marshall Prather have been their primary offensive threats, each with three goals. OBU has shown recent improvement offensively, scoring six goals in its last five games. Historically, Fort Hays State has maintained an unbeaten record against Ouachita Baptist, with a solid 5-0-3 record. However, FHSU registered a 2-2 tie against OBU earlier this season in Arkadelphia. 
 
Meanwhile, Harding holds a record of 4-8-1 (2-5-0 GAC) and is coming off a much-needed conference win against Ouachita Baptist in Searcy. Before their encounter with the Tigers, they will face Newman in Wichita on Thursday. Harding's goalkeepers lead the GAC in saves with a total of 83 and maintain a save percentage of 73.5%, ranking third in the GAC. The team has demonstrated effective ball movement, with four players each contributing three assists. In previous matchups between the teams, the Tigers have a commanding 13-2-0 advantage over the Bisons and managed to secure a victory earlier this year in Searcy.