By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Waashburn University senior All-MIAA and All-Central Region first-team soccer defender Lindsey Maul has scored two goals in her Ichabod career, but her main job and a role she embraces is doing everything she can to help keep Ichabod opponents out of the net.
Senior defender Lindsey Maul (2) is a top returner for No. 4-ranked Washburn soccer after earning first-team All-MIAA and all-region honors in 2025. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"I've been a defender through and through, 100 percent,'' said Maul, a former Wichita Bishop Carroll standout. "I embrace it because it's like the nitty-gritty work.
"It's the backbone of what we do. Yes, you have to score to win, but you also have to stop everybody else from scoring to do that.''
Washburn graduated several key defensive players, including first-team All-American and MIAA defensive player of the year Belle Kennedy, off last year's 14-4-6 team that advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals.
But Maul and fellow senior defender Rilyn Snyder, a second-team All-MIAA selection in 2025, are part of a key returning nucleus that will be counted on to provide leadership this fall.
"I definitely think that I can help the new girls that are coming in, but I don't think of it as pressure,'' Maul said. "I think of it as an opportunity to lead these girls.
"Girls that are already here and the freshmen that are coming in, I know they have so much potential, but I would be more than happy to take on that leadership role and to build on to what we do and hopefully continue the success with it.''
Washburn, picked No. 4 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II preseason national rankings, completed its third day of two-a-days Wednesday and will play its first of two home scrimmages at 9 a.m. Sunday against Baker.
Washburn will open its regular season at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 in Yager Stadium against pre-season No. 21 Maryville.
"It's go time right now,'' Maul said. "I know we're all ready to get started and I'm just ready to see where this team goes because I think we can do amazing things.''
