By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When Washburn University soccer got a penalty kick opportunity with just over 10 minutes left in Thursday's season-opener against Oklahoma Baptist, Ichabod coach Davy Phillips wanted Vivian Soto-Herrera to take the shot.
It turns out that Soto-Herrera's teammates and the sophomore midfielder herself wanted that, too, and Soto-Herrera delivered, snaking the PK past OBU goalkeeper Mia Pendleton to give Washburn a 1-0 non-conference victory at Yager Stadium.
Viviana Soto-Herrera (middle) is congratulated by her Washburn soccer teammates after converting a penalty kick to give the Ichabods a 1-0 season-opening win over Oklahoma Baptist Thursday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"I told my assistant (Jessica Hillebert), 'I want Viv on it,' and she said, 'Viv already has it, she already stepped to the spot,' '' Phillips said. "I think everybody knows that Viv is a fantastic finisher, so we felt confident in her.''
"The whole team just pointed at me and I was like, 'OK, I'll take it,' '' Soto-Herrera said.
Soto-Herrera admitted she likes being in that role.
"I do,'' she said. "I have trust in myself.''
Soto-Herrera's penalty kick was the only goal of the night, but the Ichabods took 15 shots to just two by the Lady Bison and WU held an 8-2 edge in shots on goal.
"I thought we were unlucky to not have three (goals), to be honest,'' Phillips said. "We talked about it at halftime and we felt like the goal was coming and it was just making sure we didn't give up one and then see if we could get two or three on the run. I thought we created the chances to do it and they weren't half chance, there were 100-percent chances.''
Raegan Wells picked up the shutout in goal for the Ichabods, registering two saves.
Washburn soccer coach Davy Phillips watches the action during Thursday's 1-0 season-opening win over Oklahoma Baptist. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn won its season-opener for the second straight season and Phillips said getting the season off to a fast start is extremely important.
"It's kind of like the game,'' Phillips said. "When you go up 1-0 you have a new confidence and you just feel more confident in how the game's going to go.
"It's the same thing with the season. We're up 1-0 now on the season and I think it just gives us confidence that what we do in training works and now it's about freeing them up to go and execute and have fun with it.''
Former Washburn Rural standout Belle Kennedy (12) tries to corral a loose ball in Washburn's 1-0 win over Oklahoma Baptist Thursday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Former Washburn Rural star Belle Kennedy, the two-time Class 6A midfielder of the year, made her college debut for Washburn, earning the start and playing 72 minutes.
Kennedy took a game-high four shots and tied teammate Haley Rogers for game-high honors with two shots on goal.
Washburn will return to action on Sunday, traveling to William Jewell for a 1 p.m. contest.
WASHBURN 1, OKLAHOMA BAPTIST 0
Oklahoma Baptist 0 0 -- 0
Wasshburn 0 1 -- 1
Washburn -- Goal: Soto-Herrera. Shutout: Wells.
