November 17, 2023 – Emporia State Soccer advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament for the third consecutive season as the Hornets took down Fort Hays State 2-1 on Friday afternoon from the ESU Pitch.
The third match this season between the Hornets and Tigers saw 30 combined shots, and a 20-10 advantage for Fort Hays State.
The first shot of the game came from the Tigers as Emily Hutchings shot wide left of the goal just three minutes into the match.
Just over one minute later, Emporia State recorded a trio of shots with the first two attempts blocked before the third shot from
Kyleigh Roe sailed over the goal.
The breakthrough for Emporia State came in the 12
th minute as
Mackenzie Dimarco broke the deadlock.
After earning a throw-in deep in their own half, Emporia State worked the ball forward into the midfield as
Hannah Woolery gained possession. Woolery played an outside the foot pass over the Tiger backline as Dimarco raced into the attacking half with a clear sight of goal. Dimarco was able to calmly slot the ball past the Fort Hays State keeper and give the Hornets a 1-0 lead in the 12
th minute.
The first half continued with Fort Hays State having the upper hand in shots, but the Hornets kept the Tigers off the scoreboard as they entered the halftime break leading 1-0.
Fort Hays State outshot Emporia State 8-6 in the first half and tallied two corner kicks to just one for the Hornets.
Following the halftime break,
Mackenzie Dimarco recorded the first shot for either team just over six minutes into the second half before Fort Hays State seemingly gained control of the match as the Tigers tallied two corner kicks and recorded four shots over the next eight minutes.
As the second half continued, the Hornets continued to face pressure from the Tigers as
Mackenzi Goen recorded six saves in the second half to keep Fort Hays State off the board until Emporia State scored their second goal of the match in the 84
th minute.
Following a corner kick from the Tigers, Emporia State gained possession as
Kyleigh Roe controlled the ball before playing a ball forward to
Mackenzie Dimarco near midfield. Dimarco took the opportunity, racing past the final Fort Hays State defender and slotting the ball past the Fort Hays State keeper for her 21
st goal of the season.
Fort Hays State was able to sneak in a goal in the 89
th minute following a scramble in the box, but Emporia State held on for the 2-1 win over Fort Hays State in the first round.
Mackenzie Dimarco scored both goals for the Hornets, pushing her season total to 21 and career total to 82 goals. Dimarco's goals were assisted by
Hannah Woolery and
Kyleigh Roe as Woolery recorded her 27
th career assist as she tied Carly Stanley (UCM 2010-13) for fourth-most in MIAA history.
Mackenzi Goen recorded a career-high 10 saves in the match.
Emporia State advances to the second round as they will take on Bemidji State at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 19 from the ESU Pitch. The matchup between the Hornets and Beavers will be the third consecutive season the two teams have played in the postseason.
