FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State won its first match of the 2026 NCAA Tournament decisively with a 3-0 shutout of Lake Erie on Sunday at FHSU Soccer Stadium. The No. 12 ranked Tigers marched on to the Round of 16 next week, moving to 16-2-3 overall, while the Storm wrapped their season at 11-5-4 overall.
The Tigers scored on all three of their shots put on target and needed a pair of saves from Payton Roehrich for the clean sheet, the team's 11th of the season. The Tigers improved their second-best goals against average nationally as a team to 0.48, while Roehrich lowered his individual average to 0.36.
The Tigers scored on two of their three first-half shots, getting goals from Juan Linares and Mario Leal Vales to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Linares scored on a free kick in the 22nd minute just outside the top of the box and Vales settled and struck a ball in the box off a pair of passes from Tom Vincent and Daniel Granado. Lake Erie generated eight shots in the first half, but Payton Roehrich made the pair of saves to keep the visitors off the board.
The Tigers added the third goal not even two minutes into the second half on a penalty kick by Linares, who ran his goal total to 11 for the season and his points total up to 30.
Lake Erie finished with a slight 10-9 shot advantage overall and FHSU led in corner kick opportunities 5-2.
The No. 3 seed Tigers will play No. 7 seed Maryville in the Super Regional semifinals next week with the site to be determined yet. The Saints knocked out No. 2 seed Saginaw Valley State on penalty kicks after playing to a scoreless draw.