WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Nov. 4, 2019) - The fourth-ranked Central Missouri Soccer team is set to compete in their final regular-season match against Fort Hays State.
Opponent:
Fort Hays State Tigers (10-4-2, 6-2-2 MIAA)
When:
Tuesday, Nov. 5th - 2 p.m.
Where:
FHSU Soccer Stadium - Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex - Hays, Kansas
The Week Ahead:
• The fourth-ranked Jennies were crowned the 2019 MIAA Champions after their 2-1 victory over Missouri Southern last Friday. The regular season title in the program's 11th , all achieved under the director of current UCM Head Coach,
Lewis Theobald.
• Fort Hays will fight for seeding in the MIAA Tournament against the Jennies. If the game results in a UCM victory, Central Oklahoma will become the fourth seed in the tournament and FHSU will be the fifth seed. If the Tigers defeat the conference champs, then they will be awarded the fourth seed and UCO will be the fifth seed.
• Central Missouri picked up their sixth and seventh consecutive MIAA victories last weekend on the road against Missouri Southern and Missouri Western. The Jennies defeated the Lions 2-1 last Friday, then beat the Griffons 3-2 the following Sunday.
• Four different Jens were responsible for their five goals last week.
Macy Ruffalo lead the offense with two goals against MWSU, while
Makayla Toth,
Kassie Newsom and
Kelsey Mueller each scored one.
• The Jennies moved up one spot in last week's United Soccer Coaches Top-25 Poll.After spending three consecutive weeks ranked fifth, the 13-1-1 Jennies ranked fourth in the nation. This week's poll comes out Tuesday around noon, just a couple hours before game time. UCM has the only ranked MIAA team in the past week's poll.
Series History:
UCM leads 10-2-0
Central Missouri has won the last six matches against the Tigers. In their 12 total meetings, the Jennies have out-scored FHSU 19-8. The last time the Tigers defeated UCM was a 2-1 FHSU victory in 2015 at Hays. Last season, the Jennies defeated FHSU in a 1-0 battle on Jennies Field.
Scouting the Competition:
• The Tigers capped their 2018 season with an overall record of 11-7-2 and went 8-3-0 in conference play. Hays was selected third in the 2019 MIAA Preseason Poll after their fourth-place finish in the league last season.
• Fort Hays brings back a wealth of experience, returning all but two regular starters from last season, seven All-MIAA performers, All-Region honoree Cailey Perkins, nine goal scorers and seven seniors. The Tigers also brought in five talented newcomers for the 2019 season which include four freshmen and one sophomore transfer.
• Fort Hays picked up two MIAA victories in Week 9. The Tigers beat Nebraska-Kearney 1-0 last Friday, then defeated Washburn 2-1 the following Sunday.
• Senior Darby Hirsch lead FHSU's offense with two goals on the week. Hirsch scored the Tigers only goal against the Lopers and had another game-winning goal against the Ichabods. Cailey Perkins scored the game-tying goal against Washburn. Hirsch leads Hays with six goals on the season, while Chloe Montano leads the Tigers attack with 35 shots.
• Megan Kneefel is the Tigers starting keeper. Kneefel has faced 166 shots and has recorded 71 saves while allowing eight goals. The senior leads the MIAA with a .554 goal against average and her save percentage of .900 ranks second in the league. The Fort Hays defense has allowed the least amount of goals in the league with 12 goals allowed in their 16 games played.
• Head Coach Blake Reynolds Blake Reynolds is currently in his third season at Fort Hays. Reynolds is the second coach in the program's history, compiling a 21-13-6 record in his first two seasons. Reynolds holds a career record of 123-55-25 over 10 years. He has led 14 student-athletes to All-MIAA status and has had three All-Region honorees. His winning percentage of .600 at FHSU is the best in program history.
Leading the Jennies:
• Toth continues to lead the Jennies offense for the 10th consecutive week. The junior forward is tied for second in the league and also tied for 10th in the DII with 38 points this season. Her 15 goals is the second-most in the MIAA while her eight assists tie for second.
•
Haley Freeman and Newsom join Toth in being tied for second in the league with eight assists. Newsom is also tied for sixth in the MIAA with six goals this season.
• Toth and Newsom lead the Jens offensive attack with 57 shots each.
• With six goals on the season
Macy Ruffalo is tied for 10th in the league in goals scored. The freshman is behind Toth and Newsom for most points and goals on the team.
•
Lindsey Johnson and the UCM defense have collected seven shutouts this season, four of which were against MIAA competitors. Johnson has the sixth-highest save percentage in the league at .808.
