FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. — Fort Hays State will play for the GAC/MIAA Tournament championship on Saturday after a 3-1 win over Northeastern State on Thursday in the semifinals. The top-seeded and No. 4 nationally ranked Tigers, now 16-0-3 overall, extended their unbeaten string to 19 matches and a berth in the conference tournament title game for a second-straight year. No. 4 seed Northeastern State moved to 8-8-3 overall with the loss.
Fort Hays State capitalized on their offensive opportunities in the first half, with Elias Ovelar Semeniuk scoring twice, assisted by Bastian Carlman and Tonnes Daland, to secure a 2-0 lead against Northeastern State. The goals came in the 13th and 16th minutes. The Tigers had great opportunities to add on, but NSU goalkeeper Jaron Noble made several crucial saves to keep the scoreline from expanding. One of those saves was on a penalty kick opportunity. By halftime, FHSU led in shots 11-2.
Northeastern State tightened the match after FHSU's missed opportunities with a penalty kick goal in the 54th minute by their leading goal scorer Carter Adams, who netted his 10th of the season. But, FHSU found breathing room again in the 74th minute with a penalty kick goal by Dylan Ashford. The Tigers maintained the two-goal advantage from there on out and finished with a 20-5 edge in shots.
Noble had a big day in goal for NSU with eight saves, many crucial, to keep his team in the match. Simon Niksch got his first start of the season in goal for FHSU and recorded three saves with just the penalty kick goal allowed.
Ovelar Semeniuk led the Tiger offensive charge with eight shots, including four on target, while also netting the game-winner for a sixth time this season. He now has 13 goals for the season.
The Tigers will take on No. 2 seed Rogers State in the tournament championship on Saturday (Nov. 15) at 1 p.m. FHSU is ranked No. 4 in the nation, while RSU is No. 13. Rogers State's only two losses of the season were to FHSU, entering with a record of 12-2-5 overall. The last time FHSU hosted the GAC Tournament in 2019, Rogers State took home the trophy after a 2-2 tie that was settled by penalty kicks. Rogers State advanced to the championship on Thursday night by taking a penalty kick shootout over Newman in the other semifinal match.