CLAREMORE, Okla. - No. 13 and second-seeded Rogers State men's soccer (14-3-5) will continue its historic run in the NCAA Tournament when it faces a familiar opponent, No. 4 and top-seeded Fort Hays State (19-0-3), in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Kickoff at FHSU Soccer Stadium is set for 1 p.m.

The winner will be named the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Super Region 3 Champion and will advance to the NCAA Tournament Semifinals in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
 
THE DANCE CONTINUES
RSU advanced to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory over No. 15 Lincoln Blue Tigers last Sunday. Sophomore Ashton Medina scored the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute, marking his second game-winner of the tournament. He received assists from Lawson Ford and Artur Carvalho on the goal. Junior goalkeeper Jaxon Kendall recorded a school-record 12th shutout of the season, making four saves.
 
In the second round, RSU earned a thrilling 1-0 victory against seventh-seeded No. 17 Cedarville. The Hillcats controlled possession and outshot the Yellow Jackets 11-9. The game's pivotal moment came in the 86th minute when Medina scored after Artur Carvalho created chaos in front of the Cedarville goal, allowing Medina to capitalize on a deflected save. Kendall collected his 11th clean sheet of the season.
 
ALL-REGION CATS'
Five Hillcats earned D2CCA All-Central Region Honors, as announced by the organization last week.
 
Alex Laing, who was named the GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, earned a spot on the first team after receiving a second-team selection last season. The London native has played 17 matches this season, starting 14 and logging 1,089 minutes on the field. Laing scored a goal against Southern Nazarene on Oct. 11 and provided an assist in the home game against the Crimson Storm on Oct. 29. He was also recognized as the GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Week for his standout performances against Rockhurst and Oklahoma Christian. Laing returned from injury against Lincoln last time out.
 
Carvalho, a fellow defender, earned his third all-region selection with a first-team nod this season. He has played in 19 matches, with 15 starts, totaling 1,488 minutes on the field. The senior has contributed four points through assists and has been instrumental in helping the Hillcats achieve 12 shutouts this season. His strong defensive performance has also earned him two GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors and a spot on the All-GAC/MIAA First Team.
 
Forward Louis Bassett has received All-GAC/MIAA First Team recognition and earned back-to-back D2CCA All-Region Second Team honors in 2025. The Leicester, England native has made a strong offensive impact this season, recording 12 points in 20 appearances, including 19 starts. The sophomore has registered three goals and six assists while taking 54 shots, 24 of which were on target. His reliable performance on the attack has also earned him two GAC/MIAA Offensive Player of the Week awards.
 
Kendall has achieved a record-breaking season in goal for the Hillcats, earning spots on the All-GAC/MIAA Second Team and the D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team. The Owasso, Oklahoma, native has recorded 12 shutouts, setting a single-season record for a goalkeeper at RSU. He holds a 0.68 goals-against average and has amassed 75 saves to date. Additionally, Kendall has been named MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week three times this season.
 
Oliver Hemlin has been selected for the D2CCA All-Central Region and All-GAC/MIAA Second Team. The midfielder from Tring, England, has played in 22 matches, including 15 starts, for the Red and Navy. In his sophomore season, he has tallied 10 points with four goals and two assists while taking 25 shots, 15 of which were on target.
 
HISTORY AGAINST FHSU
This marks the fourth meeting between the two programs this season and the 21st all-time meeting. Tigers lead the series 7-6-7 and are 3-2-3 against the Hillcats on their home pitch. Hays has won all three matchups this season, with the last two decided by a single goal, including a 2-1 final in the GAC/MIAA Tournament Championship game on Nov. 15.
 
ABOUT THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State has collected an impressive 19-0-3 record this season. The Tigers won both the GAC/MIAA Regular Season and Tournament Championships.
 
In the NCAA Tournament, Fort Hays State has secured victories over ninth-seeded UIndy (3-0) and fourth-seeded No. 10 Rockhurst (2-0). They have yet to concede a goal in the tournament, and the last goal they surrendered this season was a strike from Noah-Preston Watkins in the GAC/MIAA Tournament Championship match.
 
Elias Ovelar Semeniuk, the reigning D2CCA Central Region and GAC/MIAA Player of the Year, has excelled this season for the Tigers on the attack. The junior forward from Asuncion, Paraguay, has recorded 34 points, including 15 goals and four assists. Notably, six of his goals have been game-winners.
 
Goalkeeper Payton Roehrich, with an 18-0-3 record, was named D2CCA All-Central Region First Team and GAC/MIAA Goalkeeper of the Year. He has allowed only eight goals in 21 starts, amassing 47 saves and 15 shutouts (five combined). Roehrich enters the contest with a 0.42 goals-against average.
 
UP NEXT
The winner of Saturday's contest will advance to the NCAA Tournament Semifinals on Friday, Dec. 12, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The NCAA Championship will follow on the subsequent Sunday. For more information, visit 2025 DII men's soccer championship: Bracket, schedule, scores | NCAA.com.