FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State University defeated New Mexico Highlands with a dominant 7-0 victory at FHSU Soccer Stadium on Thursday afternoon. The Tigers scored their second most goals in a single match in program history.
Fort Hays State dominated the first half, taking a 5-0 lead by halftime. Chaley French opened the scoring in the sixth minute with an assist off the crossbar from Sydney Cotter. French scored another goal five minutes later, assisted by Taylor Hill and Makenzie Hood. Cotter then found the net twice herself, in the 25th and 31st minutes, with Payton Porter and Megan Wiman contributing to the first of her goals. The second was a free kick just outside the 18. Berit Shores finished the first-half scoring in the 38th minute.
The Tigers extended their lead in the second half with goals from Saylor Richard Sydney Cotter, finishing with a 7-0 victory. Fort Hays managed a total of six shots in the second half, with Saylor Richard's goal coming in the 69th minute and Sydney Cotter scoring less than a minute later. Despite the Cowgirls' efforts, which included six shots in the second half, goalkeeper Hadley Ostrander maintained a clean sheet with one save.
Cotter tied two Fort Hays State single-match records with her performance. She matched the school record for goals in a match, becoming the fourth player in program history with a hat trick courtesy of her three goals. She is the first with a hat trick since Hannah Mares accomplished the feat against Southwestern College on September 2, 2023. She also tied the school record for points in a match with seven, joining Thalya Dwyer who had three goals and an assist in a win over Northwestern Oklahoma State on September 11, 2016, which was the game FHSU set it's single-game goal record, a 9-0 win. Chaley French had five shots in the match, nearly reaching a hat trick as well with some early opportunities.
At one point in the match, FHSU led the shot count 18-1, but the Cowgirls recorded six more shots late in the match.
Looking ahead, Fort Hays State begins MIAA play hosting Missouri Southern on Friday, September 26. The match is set for 7 p.m. at FHSU Soccer Stadium.