EDMOND, Okla. – Fort Hays State fell to Central Oklahoma by a score of 5-2 on Friday afternoon (Oct. 11) in an MIAA contest. An early red card on the Tigers aided the Bronchos in having an offensive advantage for the majority of the contest. FHSU moved to 5-3-3 overall and 2-2-1 in the MIAA, while UCO improved to 5-4-2 overall and 2-1-2 in the MIAA.
 
Central Oklahoma scored its first goal 21 minutes into the match when a ball saved by Tiger keeper Mackenzie Caldwell rebounded perfectly to Jada Ryan of UCO right in front of an open net. About nine minutes later, UCO had a breakaway opportunity and their player was tripped up by Caldwell in the box in a 1-on-1 situation. The officials decided to issue a red card for the foul, which denied the goal-scoring chance for the Bronchos. With the foul, Tatum Hoge entered the game at goalkeeper and FHSU had to play a player down the final 60 minutes of the match.
 
Madison Linavong of UCO cashed in the penalty kick and then Tatum Tallal added a goal in the 34^th minute, helping push the lead to 3-0 by halftime.
 
Even being a player down the rest of the match, the Tigers showed enough grit to score twice on the Bronchos. UCO went up 4-0 after a Becca Tweedy goal in the 47^th minute, but Taylor Hill responded a minute later with a goal off a long pass from Laila Cook. Twedy scored another goal in the 52^nd minute, but the Tigers countered again with a Sydney Cotter goal shot from outside the box in the 61^st minute.
 
The Tigers had seven saves overall in the match, three by Hoge in relief and Caldwell with four in the early going. All eight shots for FHSU in the contest were on goal.
 
The Tigers look to shake off their unfortunate break on Sunday when they play host to Newman University at 2 p.m. in Hays at FHSU Soccer Stadium.