Fort Hays State Men's Soccer heads back on the road this week in conference play. The Tigers take on Northeastern State Thursday night (Oct. 15) in Tahlequah at 7 p.m., then Newman on Saturday (Oct. 17) in Wichita at noon. The No. 14 ranked Tigers enter at 8-2-3 overall and 6-0-1 in the GAC. Northeastern State enters the week 4-7-1 overall and 3-3-1 in the GAC, while Newman is 3-10 overall and 2-5 in the GAC.
 
How to Watch
Both contests this week are on The MIAA Network. Subscription rates apply.
 
Seven-Straight Wins Over the RiverHawks
FHSU is 11-0-2 in its last 13 matches with NSU, with the last loss during the short 2020-21 spring season when the usual fall season was canceled due to COVID-19. The Tigers hold a 22-9-7 advantage in the all-time series. The Tigers have won the last seven meetings with the RiverHawks, which is the longest win streak ever in the series.
 
Seven-Straight Wins Over the Jets
Fort Hays State has won the last seven meetings with Newman going back to the 2023 season. The Tigers scored multiple goals in each of those seven meetings and they won three of the meetings by shutout. The Tigers are 15-2 all-time against the Jets and have a 6-2 mark in Wichita.
 
Just Over Halfway in Conference Play
Fort Hays State is off to a 6-0-1 start in conference play. The Tigers won their first six in conference play before tying Rogers State this past Saturday in Claremore, Okla. The Tigers are on their second round of playing all the schools in the conference. This week marks their final two conference matches on the road this season.
 
Tigers Remain No. 14 in National Poll
Fort Hays State continue to hover around the same area in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Tigers are ranked No. 14 this week, a ranking they held three polls prior. FHSU was ranked No. 13 in the previous two polls. The Tigers have been in the Top 25 of every poll so far this season, which includes the preseason and seven regular season polls. FHSU has been in the top 25 of the national rankings for 23-straight polls going back to the 2024 season.

Tigers 9th in NCAA NPI Rankings for Super Region 3
Fort Hays State is currently the only team from the GAC in the top-10 of the NCAA NPI rankings in Super Region 3. NPI rankings are a new system the NCAA is using in place of the previous regional rankings system used for several years in NCAA Division II. The NCAA Power Index, or NPI, is a ranking system used in Division II and Division III to evaluate team performance. NPI considers game results and the strength of opponents to calculate a team's NPI value and ranking. NPI calculations update throughout the season as teams continue to play game and opponent NPI values change. A team's final NPI is not determined until the final games and rankings of the season are complete.
 
Players of the Week
FHSU has six GAC Player of the Week honors this season. Payton Roehrich was the Goalkeeper of the Week four times this season (Sept. 8, 22, 29, Oct. 13). Juan Linares was the Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 22, while Francisco Degiorgi was the Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 1.
 
Linares Lead in Points
Midfielder Juan Linares leads FHSU and the GAC in points with 14 this season (5 goals, 4 assists). He had two goals last week against Newman, his second two-goal match at FHSU. Linares is tied for the GAC lead in goals with Wesley Rodriguez of Southern Nazarene, and he's tied for third in the GAC for assists.
 
Multiple Assists
Francisco Degiorgi and Juan Linares lead the Tigers in assists this season, accounting for half of the team's 18 assists. Nine other Tigers have provided one helper this season. Degiorgi leads the Tigers with five assists, which is also tied for the GAC lead with Gian Filizzola of Rogers State. Linares has four for the season, which is tied with three other players in the GAC.
 
Strong Between the Pipes
Payton Roehrich continues to produce strong numbers in goal. He holds an 0.48 goals against average for the season and an .838 save percentage. He is among the top 11 nationally in each category. He was dubbed the GAC Goalkeeper of the Week for a fourth time this season earlier this week.
 
Scouting the Opponent
Newman
-The Jets are 3-10 overall and 2-5 in GAC play.
-Newman has lost three in a row entering this week.
-Tomas Melon (2 goals) and Higor Werneck (1 goal, 2 assists) lead the Jets in points with 4 each.
-Ten different players account for Newman's 11 total goals scored this season.
-Guilherme Borges has seen the majority of action in goal for the Jets, holding a 1.81 goals against average and .698 save percentage. Former Tiger Mathis Lefevre got the start against FHSU earlier this season in Hays.
 
Northeastern State
-The RiverHawks hold an overall record of 4-7-1 and a 3-3-1 record in GAC play.
-Carter Adams leads NSU in points with 11 (4 goals, 3 assists).
-Victor Jaunay leads NSU in goalkeeping with a 1.49 goals against average and .714 save percentage.
-Rob Czlonka is in his 16^th season leading the RiverHawks and holds an overall record of 154-97-32.