By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
With the exception of a six-goal win, Washburn University soccer had found it to be a challenge to put the ball in the net over its first seven games of the 2024 season, with the Ichabods failing to score more than more than two goals in six starts and being held without a goal in three contests.
Washburn senior Ana Muruzabal scored a pair of goals in Sunday's 3-0 MIAA win over Newman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn junior Aubrey Tanksley (9) is congratulated by her teammates after scoring the first goal in Sunday's 3-0 Ichabod win over Newman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the Ichabods showed signs of an offensive resurgence in Sunday's 3-0 MIAA home win over Newman while continuing to excel on the defensive end.
Senior Ana Muruzabal keyed Washburn's offense with a pair of second-half goals while the Ichabods never trailed after getting a goal from junior Aubrey Tanksley at the 36:13 mark of the opening half as WU improved to 4-2-2 overall and 1-0-1 in the conference.
"In our pregame talk I said we've got to be committed to the long process in this game and it may take us 60 minutes before we get a goal,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "We're the better team and you just have to keep doing the right things.
"Getting the goal before half helped a little bit, it took a little bit of that edge off. We had 23 shots, so it was coming. We have to be more clinical up front. That's something we've got to get right before the heart of conference and playoffs, but foundationally speaking we are in a really good place. It's figuring out that very last detail now.''
And while Washburn was able to get its offense cranked up against the Jets (0-7-1, 0-2-0), the Ichabods made program history on the the other end of the field.
With Sunday's win, Washburn has now recorded six shutouts in a row and has set a school record for consecutive minutes played without allowing a goal.
The Ichabods have kept opponents off the scoreboard for 568 minutes and 44 seconds, dating back to the 62nd minute of the game against Maryville on Sep. 7. The previous record was set in 2014, when the Ichabods recorded 564 minutes and 36 seconds of shutout defense in a span from Sep. 28 to Oct. 19.
Despite controlling possession for most of the first half, Washburn struggled to find holes in the Newman defense.
That changed in the 37th minute, when Tanksley followed her initial shot attempt and put the ball in the net on her second chance to give the Ichabods a 1-0 lead.
The Ichabods out-shot the Jets 8-1 in the half, while also taking seven corner kicks.
The second half started off in a similar manner, with Washburn controlling possession but unable to find high-quality scoring opportunities.
Later in the half, the Jets were able to put pressure on the Ichabods with improved offensive play, including a shot on goal from Jalyn McClean in the 78th minute that forced a save from sophomore goalkeeper Hailey Beck.
The Ichabods were able to put the contest out of reach a few minutes later when Muruzabal scored two goals in a span of less than three minutes.
Washburn sophomore Mackinly Rohn (24) registered an assist in Sunday's 3-0 MIAA soccer win over Newman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Viviana Soto-Herrera (15) was credited with an assist on Washburn's final goal in Sunday's 3-0 MIAA soccer win over Newman. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The first came on a cross into the box that sophomore Mackinly Rohn tapped to a wide-open Muruzabal to double the Washburn lead. Muruzabal then finished off a Viviana Soto-Herrera pass with a left-footed shot to give the Ichabods their final lead.
"I was just real excited to help the team and get us a big win,'' Muruzabal said. "I think we're doing good. We've been struggling to get goals but we're doing what we're supposed to do and we're trying and keeping possession and getting shots and we're winning overall so we're good.''
Washburn took 23 shots in the match, with 14 coming on goal.
Tanksley and Muruzabal led the offensive effort with three shots each. The Ichabods had 13 different players record at least one shot in the contest.
Beck recorded two saves in goal to preserve the clean sheet.
Newman took six total shots, with two being on target. McClean led the Jets with two shot attempts, with both being on goal.
Carla Apodaca made 11 saves in net for Newman.
The Ichabods will travel to Nebraska-Kearney for their first road conference match of the season on Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
WASHBURN 3, NEWMAN 0
Newman (0-7-1, 0-2-0) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn (4-2-2) 1-0-1) 1 2 -- 3
Washburn -- Goals: Ana Muruzabal 2, Aubrey Tanksley. Assists: Mackinly Rohn, Viviana Soto-Herrera. Shutout: Hailey Beck.
