Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Fort Hays State Tigers tallied three goals in the second half to get by Nebraska-Kearney, 3-0, Friday night at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.

This was UNK's home opener and a non-MIAA game. With the result, the Tigers improve to 2-3 while the Lopers fall to 1-2-2. The two squads play a league contest on October 30th in Kansas.

Kearney had a great chance to strike gold minutes into the game after Hays keeper Kristen Thompson couldn't control the ball after catching a cross. Norfolk junior Evie Sintek first fired a shot that was blocked by a Tiger with the rebound going to Loper senior Montanna Hosterman (Papillion-LaVista South H.S.). Her shot, unfortunately, went just wide of the net.

UNK freshman Ali Hirschman (Millard South H.S.) recorded three of her five saves in the first half to keep the game scoreless. A physical second half saw four yellow cards handed out with Hirschman having to leave after colliding with a Tiger.

Ten minutes before the injury, sophomore Kelsey Steffens gave Hays a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute when she scored on a corner taken by senior Gabrielle Makatura. In the 67th minute, the Tigers added another goal as senior Ember Albertson made a couple of nice moves and scored from 15 yards out.

Finally, in the 75th minute, Lincoln Southeast graduate Hannah Jurgens scored from within the box.

"We're obviously disappointed to lose our home opener," said UNK head coach John Maessner. "We didn't finish our chances and we had some good ones. We talked about how well we played for 70, 80 percent of the match. But we just did not play well in and around the goal. In front of the goal is the most important time to do well."

Sintek and sophomore Carly Brown (Omaha Skutt H.S.) each recorded two shots for UNK with newcomers Kelsie Ienn (Papillion-LaVista H.S.) and Micheala Hoffman (Fruita, Colo.) two of the four Lopers to go all 90 minutes.

"We know we are a good team. That result could've been a lot different. Our issues tonight, like standing around on their corner kicks, are easy to fix. We're a very young team and we'll just keep getting better."

UNK is at Washburn (0-3-2) Sunday afternoon.