Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The 21st-ranked Fort Hays State women's soccer team scored three second half goals to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 3-0, Friday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

With the decision, the Lopers (6-8-3, 3-5-2) have been eliminated from the MIAA Tournament race. UNK needed a win or tie today to keep its hopes alive.

The Tigers (13-3-1, 9-1), who entered today in a first-place tie with Central Missouri, tallied its goals in the 64th, 73rd and 88th minutes. Juniors Thalya Dwyer and Kelsey Steffens each scored for the sixth time this fall with junior Jasmine Beaulieu having her second goal and an assist in this flurry.

"I thought we were the better team for 80 percent of the game. But we've had trouble scoring goals all year. I told the girls the difference between our team and theirs right now is that they figure a way to score a goal when they need it," said Loper head coach John Maessner.

UNK, which tied Hays earlier this year in Kansas, held its own until that late offensive barrage. The Lopers took twice as many corners than the Tigers, 6-3, and out shot Hays in the first half. However, sophomore keeper Abbie Flax made three saves to record her ninth shutout of the season.

"We've been better than most of the teams we've played this year. But if you don't score, you're obviously not going to win," said Maessner. "Losing wasn't an option today. After they scored the first one, we had to push some players forward and change some things up. That always makes it harder on the other players but we had to try."

Beaulieu scored the game winner from the left wing after taking a pass from Steffens. Just nine minutes later, Dwyer broke away from the Lopers at midfield and managed to get the ball past a charging Allie Prososki (Kearney Catholic). ????Finally, Steffens goal came right after Prososki made a save on a shot taken by Beaulieu.

"We made a couple of mistakes and they finished a couple of their chances," said Maessner.

Hastings junior Marika Van Brocklin, one of four Lopers to go the distance, took a team-high two shots with Norfolk freshman Maddie Love having a shot on goal in the second half.

UNK hosts Emporia State Sunday afternoon. Seniors Kristyn Otter (Omaha), Evie Sintek (Norfolk) and Kadie Walaszczyk (Houston) will be honored prior to the kickoff.