FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The 23rd ranked Fort Hays State women's soccer team defeated Missouri Southern 5-0 at FHSU Soccer Stadium on Friday. The Tigers scored once in the first half before a second half scoring explosion netting four goals in 22 minutes. It was the 10th shutout for the Tigers this season. FHSU improved to 9-0-6, 4-0-4 MIAA, while Missouri Southern fell to 1-12-1, 1-6-1 MIAA.
The Tigers set the tone immediately as a corner kick was bounced around in front of the net before Hannah Mares struck the ball past the keeper in the second minute. The Tigers led 1-0 entering the break, but Mares was quick to find the net for a second time in the second half. In the 48th minute, the Tigers placed the ball in front of the net on another corner kick and the junior forward pushed her way into the pile to chip the ball past the keeper for her second goal of the match and sixth of the season.
Sullivan Kelly continued the scoring for the Tigers as she netted a pair of goals in a five-minute span. The first came in the 53rd minute on a throw in by Emily Hutchings, which glanced an MSSU defender and landed perfectly for Kelly who drove the ball into the net. The second came on a perfectly struck ball from about 25 yards out that sailed perfectly over the keeper's reach and into the top left corner of the goal to give FHSU a 4-0 lead in the 58th minute. The final Tiger score came on another corner kick in the 71st minute as Gracen Chaney bent the ball perfectly over the Lions' defense and Reilly Madden headed it into the net for her second goal of the season.
With the five goals, the Tigers tied their fifth-highest scoring output in a match in program history and also their highest score in a conference match, the last instance ending 5-1 against Nebraska-Kearney back in 2012. This match also eclipsed the largest margin of victory in a conference match for the Tigers. FHSU finished with 17 shots and put 11 on target compared to six shots by MSSU with one on goal. Isabel Robben nabbed a save between the posts, while Lilly Doneghue grabbed five saves for Missouri Southern.
The Tigers will be back in action on Sunday as they host No. 5 ranked Central Missouri in a Top 25 matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.