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No. 16-ranked Washburn soccer set to host Hornets in Senior Night clash
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 16-ranked Washburn University soccer team hosts rival Emporia State at Yager Stadium at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening for Senior Night, looking to wrap up the MIAA regular-season title.
Washburn, 11-2-4 overall and 8-0-3 in the MIAA, can clinch the championship with a win over the Hornets (8-5-4, 5-2-4).
Multi-time MIAA pick Belle Kennedy (12) is one of 10 Washburn soccer seniors who will be recognized before Wednesday's Senior Night match against Emporia State in Yager Starium. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn will recognize seniors Sydney Achilles, Shandon Carr, Londyn Furnish, Alli Harrington, Belle Kennedy, Hunter McWilliams, Lakin Rold, Brooke Powell, Aubrey Tanksley and Shaye Taylor.
"I'm excited that our ladies have earned the chance to compete for something really special on Senior Night,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "This senior class has been an incredible class for our program. They're the winningest class in WU soccer history (with 57 wins), they played for a national championship, and now get the chance to earn a third MIAA trophy.
"It's a really special class that I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach. Thank you, ladies."
Washburn extended its unbeaten streak this past weekend to 13 with a 2-0 win last Friday at Northwest Missouri and a scoreless draw against Missouri Western on Sunday.
"We are looking forward to the opportunity to continue to grow into our DNA in pursuit of another MIAA title,'' Phillips said. "Emporia is a good team and well-coached, and it's always a battle."
During their unbeaten streak, the Ichabods have only allowed three goals.
Washburn moved up three spots to No. 16 in the USC national poll and remained second in the USC Central Region poll.
No. 16-ranked Washburn soccer battles Hornets to 0-0 Senior Night tie
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 16-ranked Washburn University soccer team battled Emporia State to an 0-0 Senior Night deadlock Wednesday night at Yager Stadium.
And the two rivals will do it all over again at 1 p.m. Sunday in Yager Stadium in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament.
Washburn freshman Kate Hinck (7) advances the ball in Wednesday night's 0-0 MIAA tie as Emporia State's Abby Bachman defends. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Wednesday was a back-and-forth opening 45 minutes, with Washburn (11-2-5 overall, 8-0-4 MIAA) taking five shots in the half with one on target from senior Shaye Taylor in the 43rd minute.
Freshman Lili Everley would make three saves on attempts by ESU (8-5-5, 5-2-5) to keep the game level at the break.
The Ichabods would have two shots on goal saved in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Senior Aubrey Tanksley would put a shot off the crossbar in the 59th minute and in the 73rd minute junior Rilyn Snyder would take a free kick that would be saved off the crossbar.
Washburn took 10 shots in the second half, with six on target and saved by Hornets goalkeeper Mackenzi Goen.
The Ichabods finished second in the MIAA regular-season standings with 28 points while Pittsburg State won its first-ever MIAA regular-season championship.
Washburn Rural soccer tops Blue Valley West 2-1 to earn shot at Class 6A state title
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural soccer avenged its only loss of the season Wednesday night, going on the road to top Blue Valley West 2-1 and earn its first berth in the Class 6A state championship game since 2021.
Senior Draden Chooncharoen (left) scored the game's first goal in Washburn Rural's 2-1 Class 6A semifinal road win over Blue Valley West Wednesday night. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Brady Loeffler scored the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 2-1 Class 6A semifinal road win over Blue Valley West. [File photo/TSN]
The 18-1-1 Junior Blues will face defending champion Shawnee Mission East (16-3-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday in the title game at Wichita's Stryker Complex.
"One of the best road victories in program history,'' Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "Defense was awesome tonight.''
The Junior Blues, who dropped a 3-2 home double-overtime decision to the Jaguars in Rural's third game of the season, never trailed Wednesday after senior Draden Chooncharoen scored in the first half on a header off a corner kick from senior Brandon Hamilton.
Blue Valley West (17-3-0) evened the score at 1-1 midway through the second half, but it took Washburn Rural all of about 30 seconds to answer with the game-winner, with senior Brady Loeffler scoring off a header.
"Great team victory for a group that just finds ways to win,'' Hensyel said. "Twelve seniors and all their experience paid off. Looking forward to the title game Saturday.''
Shawnee Mission East (16-3-1) advanced to the championship game with a 5-3 semifinal victory over Wichita Southeast (18-2-0).
Washburn Rural, making its sixth straight 6A final four appearance, dropped a 3-0 semifinal decision to the Lancers last season before the Junior Blues bounced back to finish third with a 3-1 win over Shawnee Mission West. SM East won the 2024 title with a 1-0 win over Dodge City.
