By KLINT SPILLER

kspiller@dailynews.net

In soccer, many times a complete team effort is enough to win a game, but combined with lapses on defense, that effort can be derailed.

The Fort Hays State University women's soccer team saw that firsthand Thursday.

Despite dominating the possession and out shooting their opponent 28 to 10, the Tigers tied 2-2 with Missouri Western State University (4-7-1, 2-5-1 MIAA) on Thursday at FHSU Soccer Stadium.

"We put out a good effort for the majority of the game, but it's the little lapses that gets us in trouble," sophomore midfielder Jordan Shaw said.

FHSU (7-5-1, 3-4-1) had a different look on the sideline.

Assistant coach Joe Nemzer assumed the head coach role since second-year coach Craig Shaw was forced to miss the game after receiving a red card Sunday against Northeastern State University for arguing with a referee about a call.

Nemzer, who served as an interim head coach for men's and women's soccer at University of Alabama-Huntsville, said "nothing really changed" for the girls with him on the sideline.

"Craig and I see eye to eye on a lot of things," Nemzer said. "I kind of do things a little differently, but tactically, we are very similar."

The Tigers, who had won four of five matches from mid to late September, have found themselves in a bit of a slump, losing two matches last week and drawing Thursday.

"I think every game from here on out is important," Nemzer said. "We need Ws in all of our games. We know we are among the elite in the conference. On our day, we are one of the better teams, but right now, we are struggling to play like that on a consistent basis."

The Tigers never trailed in the match and led twice, but each time, Missouri Western answered.

Freshman forward Jordan Hester put FHSU up 1-0 in the 18th minute. She received a pass from junior forward Joanne Glynn and shot it to the left of the goalkeeper.

In the second half, Missouri Western senior forward Abby Widrig tied it in the 47th minute as she shot the ball past FHSU's charging goalkeeper Nicole Barnaba. Sophomore defender A.J. Powers collected the assist.

Demzer said it was a save Barnaba would have made 99 percent of the time.

"I think we had one big miscue that led to a goal," he said. "It's a game of inches, and you've really got to make the most of the opportunities you get."

Jordan Shaw put her team back up in the 78th minute, collecting a loose ball 10 feet outside of the penalty box and put it in the back of the net from range.

However, Missouri Western immediately answered on a set piece. Junior forward Rochelle Gillilan blasted a grounder to the left of FHSU's wall into the bottom left corner of the net.

"Everyone knows you kind of let (your guard) down after a goal gets scored," Shaw said. "It's a little frustrating, but at the same time, we had a lot of opportunities, otherwise."

Barnaba finished with four saves, while Missouri Western's goalkeeper Kelly Voigts had nine saves.

The Tigers hope to get out of their recent rut, but their next two matches are against two teams near the top of the conference -- Northwest Missouri State University (7-3-3, 5-1-2) and Truman State University (9-2-1, 5-1).

The Tigers play Northwest Missouri at 11 a.m. Saturday at home and go on the road Oct. 19 to Truman.

"We are just going to focus on Saturday for now, but we know we need wins from here on out," Jordan Shaw said.