HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State junior forward and GAC/MIAA Offensive Player of the Year Len Valkema scored two goals in Thursday's first semifinal match of the 2026 GAC/MIAA Men's Soccer Championships as the top overall seed Tigers defeated Southern Nazarene from FHSU Soccer Stadium, 4-1.

Fort Hays State will now advance to Saturday's championship match, where it will meet the winner of Thursday's second semifinal match between No. 2 Rogers State and No. 3 Northeastern State.

Southern Nazarene looked to turn the tides from its two regular season losses to the Tigers, making all-conference first team goalkeeper Payton Roehrich work in goal in the early going, with SNU delivering two shots on goal in the first 15:48 of gameplay. The defense of the Tigers stood tall, however, as Valkema got the scoring started in the 32'.

Holding a 1-0 lead at the break, FHSU broke through the Crimson Storm defense in the second period, netting its next two goals within the first 11 minutes of second-half action, including Valkema's second goal off an assist from All-GAC/MIAA honorable mention Francesco Valenti.

The fourth and final goal came in the 61' from Tiger Daniel Granado off the feed from GAC/MIAA Midfielder of the Year Juan Linares. Over the final 30 minutes of game action, Southern Nazarene was able to net its first goal of the season against Fort Hays from junior defender Xavier Salisbury in the 68'.

Fort Hays State maintained the three-goal advantage the rest of the way, punching its ticket to the 2026 GAC/MIAA Men's Soccer Championship Game for the second year in a row. The Tigers will meet the winner of the Hillcats and Riverhaws Saturday, Nov. 7 at 12 p.m. from FHSU Soccer Stadium in Hays, Kan.