HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State Women's Soccer is set to open its 2024 season with a pair of home matches. The Tigers face CSU-Pueblo in the season opener on Thursday night (Sept. 5) at 7 p.m. before taking on Rockhurst on Monday (Sept. 9) at 1 p.m. 
 
Coming off a strong 13-5-3 overall record in head coach Tyson John's second year at the helm, the Tigers are poised for further success in the MIAA, which saw four teams qualify for the eight-team NCAA Central Regional last year. In 2023, Fort Hays State defended its home turf with an impressive 8-1-3 record and finished conference play at 8-2-1. Their success was largely driven by strong defense, ranking among the nation's best by allowing just 14 goals all season, with only 12 allowed before the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers made their fourth appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament, marking back-to-back qualifications (2022 and 2023) for the first time in program history.

Fort Hays State returns seven of 10 All-MIAA selections from last year, including standout first-team selection Emily Hutchings (defender). Hutchings logged all but seven minutes in the regular season, helping the team's impressive 0.61 goals-against average. Other all-conference returners include second-team honorees Allison Worley and Sullivan Kelly, third-team honoree Ryan McCabe, and honorable mention picks Montserrat Diaz, Kintzli Wagner, and Megan Wiman.

The Tigers welcome 12 newcomers, featuring seven transfers and five freshmen. Among the new faces is forward Sydney Cotter, an All-America selection from United Soccer Coaches, who tallied 13 goals and three assists last season at Chaffey College, leading her previous team to the CCCAA Final Four. Graduate student Mackenzie Caldwell, a goalkeeper from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, brings her experience to the squad, having recorded 234 saves with a .748 save percentage over her four-year collegiate career.

CSU-Pueblo enters 2024 coming off a 7-5-6 overall record, including a 5-3-4 mark in RMAC play. The ThunderWolves outscored opponents 22-16 last year and return junior forward Cortney Cowles, their leading scorer with six goals. The Tigers narrowly lost their last matchup against CSU-Pueblo back in 2021 by a score of 1-0 Pueblo. The ThunderWolves lead the all-time series 3-2-1. However, Fort Hays State claimed a 1-0 victory the last time the teams met at FHSU Soccer Stadium in 2019.

Rockhurst University had a solid 2023 season with an 8-6-4 overall record and a 6-4-3 mark in the GLVC. The Hawks were prolific on offense, outscoring opponents by double digits with 29 goals, while allowing only 14. They averaged 1.61 goals per match and ranked second in the GLVC for shots per match with 17.94. Rockhurst will first face CSU-Pueblo on Saturday afternoon in Hays, Kan., before taking on the Tigers on Monday.
 
Live stats and live video will be available for both contests.