FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved on to the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament by defeating the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist on Wednesday (Nov. 4) 2-1. The fourth-seeded Tigers pushed their win streak to four matches and move on to face No. 1 seed Central Missouri on its home field in Warrensburg, Mo., on Friday (Nov. 6).
Cenayda Guzman got the Tigers on the board first, when she was able to place a header off a corner kick from Vianei Sanchez in the back of the net at 60:00.
After a hard foul just outside the SBU box Jasmine Beaulieu rifled a laser free kick past the Bearcat keeper extending the Tiger lead to 2-0 with just 4:31 remaining in the game.
SBU did not go down without a fight as 2014 MIAA Offensive Player of the Year Karla Jamison had a rebound off FHSU goalkeeper Abbie Flax bounce right to her and she buried it in the back of the net for her 14th goal of the season. It cut the Tiger lead in half, just 15 seconds after Beaulieu’s goal. SBU had a few more opportunities in the final four minutes but were unable to find the equalizer and buzzer sounded with the Tigers on top 2-1.
Abbie Flax recorded her fifth win of the season for FHSU in between the pipes, saving seven shots.
Wind played a huge factor in the match, steady out of the south at about 20-30 mph throughout the match. SBU was downwind the first half and recorded 12 shots to Fort Hays State’s three, but the Tigers kept the Bearcats off the board. In the second half, FHSU had 13 shots to SBU’s three.
Fort Hays State takes on Central Missouri at 4 pm on Friday. The Jennies are ranked No. 9 in the latest national poll. FHSU defeated Central Missouri earlier this year in Hays, 2-1, when UCM was ranked No. 1 in the nation.