By NICK VILLALOBOS
Sports Editor
Northwestern was crushed at home by Fort Hays State in exhibition match last Saturday.
The Ranger soccer team faced the Tigers of FHS in a friendly match set to prepare both squads for their season openers next week.
Unfortunately, it was not meant to be for the ladies in red and white as the Tigers took the contest 3-0.
As play began in the first half, the Rangers were forced to take a defensive approach as the Tigers applied constant pressure.
Ranger head coach Craig Liddell said after the game that FHS “was a good strong team, well organized and that the Rangers had a lot of great things going but were never quite able to connect.”
Despite an early shot attempt from Northwestern, the Tigers managed to counter with numerous shots on goal with one sliding past the gloves of Rangers goalie Briana Legaspi.
The goal for the Tigers came with 25 minutes remaining in the first half.
Legaspi recorded a huge save with 19 minutes remaining keeping the Rangers from falling anymore behind and allowing Northwestern to break through the heavy Tiger pressure and fire off a shot of their own.
Unfortunately, the shot would end in a save by the Tiger’s goalie, preventing the Rangers to gain any ground.
The Tigers pressure continue to disallow any progress for the Rangers, which left the score 1-0 in favor of FHS at the end of the first half.
When the second half began, the Rangers forced their way into Tiger territory and establish a presence as they fired shot after shot at the target, all resulting in missed opportunities unfortunately.
With just over 30 minutes remaining, the Tigers struck again pushing their lead to 2-0 over the Rangers.
Following the second goal by the Tigers, Ranger Legaspi was subbed out and teammate Kylee Pelfrey came in to add a few more minutes in her freshmen year as a Rangers goalie.
Legaspi said after the game that now the Rangers just prepare for the season opener and remember what coach always tells them, which is to always expect excellence from ourselves.
The Tigers were able to tack on another score with only 27 seconds remaining on the clock, capping off a dominant 3-0 performance over Northwestern.
“We’re not too down about this, its things we can fix,” said coach Liddell. “It’ll come together in a hurry and I am very confident about that.”
Northwestern will open their season on the road Friday as they play cross-state rival, Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. at 5:30 p.m. for what will be a non-conference game.
The Rangers then have two more non-conference match-ups when they head to Wayne, NE to face Wayne St. College followed by a matchup in Sioux Falls, S.D. to face the Sioux Falls Cougars before returning home Sept. 19.