By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer showed off its resiliency and depth Sunday in Yager Stadium as the Ichabods stretched their unbeaten streak to 11 games with a 2-1 MIAA victory over Fort Hays State.
The Ichabods, now 10-2-3 overall and 7-0-2 in the conference, never trailed after freshman Bricelyn Betts scored her first career goal with 11:49 left in the opening half off an assist from sophomore Sam Searcey, but the Tigers (3-10-1, 1-7-1) squared the match just 1:39 into the second half on a goal from Chaley French.
The game remained tied for just over 30 minutes until junior Kylie Hinrichs recorded her first career goal for the game-winner, with Searcey again providing the assist, and the Ichabods were able to hold on the rest of the way.
Washburn freshman Bricelyn Betts is mobbed by her teammates after scoring the Ichabods' first goal in Sunday's 2-1 win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn freshman Kylie Hinrichs delivers the game-winning goal in the Ichabods' 2-1 win over Fort Hays State Sunday in Yager Stadium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
For the second straight game Washburn scored the game-winning goal in the final 15 minutes.
"The resiliency of this group, they just stay so committed to the process day-in and day-out, training, games,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "Teams have to beat us. They truly have to beat us and there'll be a moment here and there in games where they might get a goal, but takes a lot to beat us.
"Credit the girls, they find a way. We are going to need that down the stretch here. We're going to need big moments late in games and knowing they can produce them is comforting and should give us confidence in these tight games down the stretch."
Washburn dominated the opening 45 minutes with seven shots in the half, including a goal in the 15th minutes that was ruled out for offsides, before Betts came off the bench to break the ice.
"Luckily I was in the right spot at the right moment, so I was really excited and ready to finish that,'' said Betts, a native of Raymore, Mo. "I had come very close, so to finally finish it was like, 'Wow, I've been waiting for that,' and it really boosted my confidence.''
After French scored her fifth goal of the year for the Tigers off an assist from Megan Wiman, Hinrichs, who also came off the bench, came through with the game-winner.
"Very exciting,'' said Hinrichs, a native of Elkhorn, Neb. "Sam got the ball out wide and she's really good at passing back post so I made sure to get there. Davy really emphasizes on getting runs from back post and it missed my head but I finished it with my foot.''
The Ichabods outshot the Tigers 15-4 and had more corners, 7-4.
With the win, Washburn took over the MIAA lead with 23 points.
Washburn will head to Marysville, Mo., for a Halloween matchup on Friday against Northwest Missouri. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m.
