FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State Women's Soccer picked up a big win on Sunday afternoon in their final home match of the regular season, knocking off No. 15 ranked Washburn 2-1. FHSU improved to 7-4-4 overall and 4-3-2 in MIAA, while Washburn, last year's national runner-up, moved to 10-3-2 overall and took its first conference loss of the season, now 7-1-1.
Fort Hays State opened the scoring in the 20th minute when a failed clearance by an Ichabod defender went right to Taylor Hill, who then had a 1-on-1 situation with the goalkeeper. Hill won the matchup with her fifth goal of the season to put the Tigers on top. FHSU held its 1-0 advantage at halftime after both teams took four shots in the first half.
The Ichabods generated several offensive opportunities in the second half, despite playing into a breeze. In the 65th minute Washburn broke through with the equalizer as Khloe Schuckman barely got her foot on the ball just in front of Tiger keeper Mackenzie Caldwell to push the ball past for a goal. Belle Kennedy assisted with a perfectly placed pass.
Even though the offensive opportunities were scarce for the Tigers in the second half, Allison Worley made good on one of the team's two shots of the second half. Britney Arneson found her with a pass just outside the top of the box and led Worley to a spot where she put a brilliant strike on the ball in the 78th minute for the game-winning goal. It was Worley's fourth goal of the season.
Washburn finished with a 13-6 shot advantage in the match by taking nine second-half shots. Caldwell notched four saves in the match, while Ichabod keeper Alli Harrington picked up two saves.
Though the Tigers have played to several draws with ranked teams in recent years, it was their first win over a nationally ranked team since the 2019 season when they knocked off a No. 14 ranked Central Oklahoma team in Edmond, also by a score of 2-1. It was the first win over a ranked team in Hays since the 2015 season when the Tigers knocked off a No. 1 ranked Central Missouri team 2-1 as well.
UP NEXT
The Tigers go on the road for their final three matches of the regular season, starting with a trip to Oklahoma next week. The Tigers will play at Northeastern State on Friday at 7 p.m. before heading to Rogers State on Sunday (Nov. 3) at 2 p.m.