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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University has shown signs of being a very good football team this fall, but the Ichabods have been derailed by a string of close losses.
Now the goal for WU is to close out 2024 with a bang, beginning with Saturday's 1 p.m. Senior Day contest against No. 8-ranked Central Oklahoma.
Former Shawnee Heights standout Tyce Brown (17) is one of 19 Washburn seniors who will be honored on Saturday at Yager Stadium. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athleetics]
Washburn will take a 2-7 overall record and 2-6 MIAA mark into Saturday's game, but four of the Ichabods' losses have been one-score decisions, including three defeats by between one and three points and back-to-back losses the past two weeks by a total of four points.
The Ichabods dropped a 31-28 road game at Central Missouri two weeks ago before dropping a 14-13 home tilt against Nebraska-Kearney last Saturday.
"After '23 (a 2-9 injury-riddled season) our biggest goal in '24 was to close the gap and be competitive,'' Washburn coach Craig Schurig said. "We knew we were going to play some of the top teams and we're right there. Some of it is just not making the play when needed and that comes with experience.
"It's not a talent thing and I think with another year of physical strength and all those kind of things this team will make those plays and we'll reverse those scores.''
Obviously the close losses have been frustrating for everyone connected with the WU program, but Schurig said he's been very proud of how his Ichabod players have handled the situation.
"They've been awesome and it's like, 'Hey, let's win this week,' '' Schurig said. "We're playing UCO, which is a very good football team, and they're kind of where we want to be, and it's like, 'Let's see where we stack up against them.'
"I think our kids have confidence and know that we're close because you've got to get to this point before you can win those games. We're playing well, we play physical, we make plays. We just need to cut down on a couple of mistakes and get a break here or there and we win.''
Washburn senior defensive back Caeden Spencer said the Ichabods just want to do everything they can over the final two weeks to end the season on a positive note.
"These last two games we just want to come out strong and just play the way we know we can play,'' Spencer said.
Washburn will honor 19 seniors before Saturday's game -- Spencer, Tyler Bowden, DeAndre Washington, Andrew Pujado, Kamble Haverkamp, Jai Haynes, Kaleb White, Tyce Brown, Eli Garnett, Mason Capper, Brycen Labertew, C.J. Callaghan, Connor Searcy, Simeon Sullivan, Sam Underwood, Chase McCoy, Nicholas Orr, Justice Akinmoladun and Nate Harding.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 16-ranked Washburn University women's soccer team earned its second straight MIAA regular-season championship on Wednesday at Emporia State, with the Ichabods taking a 2-0 win over Hornets to wrap up their regular season.
Washburn University's soccer team hoists the MIAA championship trophy after Wednesday's 2-0 win at Emporia State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn's Mackinly Rohn (24) and Viviana Soto-Herrera (15) scored the Ichabods' goals in Wednesday's 2-0 win at Emporia State as WU clinched the MIAA regular-season title. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods, who improved to 13-3-2 overall and 10-1-1 in the MIAA, will be the top seed for the MIAA Tournament and will host a first-round game on Sunday at Yager Stadium. MIAA Tournament pairings will be set after the conclusion of Wednesday's games.
Washburn scored the only goal it would need in the 21st minute of the opening half as a shot near the top of the box from senior Viviana Soto-Herrera off an assist from senior Khloe Schuckman found the far post past the dive of ESU goalkeeper Mackenzi Goen.
Soto-Herrera's goal held up for a 1-0 WU halftime lead.
In the first half Washburn held a 5-4 shots advantage and a 2-0 advantage on corner kicks.
Following the break the Ichabods resumed control of the match, recording six shots through the first 20 minutes of the half, eventually leading to the second goal of the match.
Emporia State conceded a corner and after the free kick, a loose ball in the box fell to former Washburn Rural standout Mackinly Rohn, a sophomore, who doubled Washburn's lead in the 65th minute.
Washburn out shot Emporia State (6-8-3, 4-6-2) 15-8 in the match and held the Hornets without a corner kick.
Ichabod senior Alli Harrington recorded the shutout in goal, making four saves.
Topeka High product Avery Zimmerman, a freshman, started for Emporia State and played 84 minutes.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural soccer coach Brian Hensyel knows that his Junior Blues face a tough road to the Class 6A state championship, with the other three schools in the semifinals a combined 51-3-3.
Washburn Rural soccer celebrates after Monday's 4-2 win over Liberal in the Class 6A state quarterfinals. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But with Rural in the midst of a strong late-season run, including a 15-2 scoring advantage over its three playoff wins, Hensyel is confident that the Junior Blues have the firepower to get the job done.
Washburn Rural, now 14-2-3 on the season, earned a fifth straight trip to the 6A Final Four with Monday's 4-2 quarterfinal win over Liberal and will now face 17-1-1 Shawnee Mission East in a 6 p.m. semifinal Wednesday at the Shawnee Mission Soccer Complex.
Washburn Rural will be facing a Shawnee Mission East team that advanced to the state semifinals with a 3-0 quarterfinal win over Mill Valley. Dodge City (19-0-0) will host Shawnee Mission West (15-2-2) in the other semifinal. Dodge City beat Wichita East 5-1 while SM West topped Blue Valley West 3-2 on penalty kicks (4-3).
"Shawnee Mission East has had an awesome season and the other teams that are left, we've seen on and off the last couple of years and we've played pretty much everybody,'' Hensyel said. "On a given night we've got the players to go toe to toe with anybody.
"We can create offensive chances and we've got great goalkeeping and defending. We gave up a couple (Monday), but we've been pretty solid across the board in that area. It's soccer, you never know what's going to happen, but we can be right there with anybody.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 16-ranked Washburn University women's soccer team will close out the 2024 regular season with a Turnpike Tussle clash at Emporia State at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Washburn senior Josie Boyle (7) receives a hug from teammate Ana Muruzabal after scoring the game-winning goal in Sunday's 1-0 win over No. 15-ranked Missouri Western. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And although the ESU game is not technically a playoff game, WU coach Davy Phillips is approaching Wednesday's contest and every remaining game with that mindset.
"We're competing for a conference championship on Wednesday, then we're in the conference tournament for playoffs and the national tournament, so from here on out we're in must-win situations in a lot of different ways,'' Phillips said.
The Ichabods can claim the MIAA regular-season title with a victory or a share of the title with a draw. The Ichabods remain in a tie with Central Missouri for second place in the MIAA, one point behind Missouri Western. The Jennies and Griffons have completed their regular season.
Washburn is 12-3-2 overall and 9-1-1 in the MIAA while Emporia State is 6-7-3 overall and 4-5-2 in the conference.
Washburn earned two big home wins this past weekend, defeating Northwest Missouri 2-0 before knocking off Missouri Western, 1-0.
After a scoreless first half against Northwest Missouri last Friday, senior Khloe Schuckman scored two goals to give Washburn the victory. Schuckman scored her seventh and eighth goals of the season against Bearcats, extending her team lead. Schuckman now has 33 goals for her career.
On Senior Day, Washburn and Missouri Western played 78 scoreless minutes before senior Josie Boyle gave the Ichabods the lead with a header off of a corner kick from Aubrey Tanksley. Boyle was named the MIAA defensive player of the week.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seven city volleyball standouts received All-State Tournament recognition from the Kansas Volleyball Association in their respective classifications.
Seaman senior Maegan Mills (right) was named to the All-State Tournament team in Class 5A after helping the Vikings finish second in the state tournament. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Seaman senior Campbell Chabot (3) was named to the All-State Tournament team in Class 5A. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman senior Ava Esser earned a spot on the Class 5A All-State Tournament team for the runnerup Vikings. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Class 5A runnerup Seaman put seniors Campbell Chabot, Ava Esser and Maegan Mills on the 5A team after the Vikings capped a 41-3 season with a three-set loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the state championship match.
Seaman posted a top-four state finish for the fourth straight season, including a state title in 2023.
Hayden senior Reagan McGivern earned a spot on the Class 4A All-State Tournament team for the third-place Wildcats. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Blakely Walter (10) earned a spot on the Class 4A All-State Tournament team after helping the Wildcats post a third-place finish. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Hayden freshman Hailey Schmidtlein was named to the Class 4A All-State Tournament team for the third-place Wildcats. [Photo by Selena Favela/TSN]
Hayden, which finished third in Class 4A, is represented on the All-4A state tournament team by senior Reagan McGivern and freshmen Hailey Schmidtlein and Blakely Walter. After dropping a three-set decision to Rock Creek in the semifinals, Hayden bounced back to take a three-set win over McPherson in the third-place match.
The Wildcats, who were making their first state tournament appearance since 2019, finished the season 32-12.
Washburn Rural senior Layla Collins was named to the Class 6A All-State Tournament team. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Layla Collins was named to the all-state tournament team in 6A after the Junior Blues went 1-2 at state. The Junior Blues finished the season 31-8.
CLASS 6A
Bailey Busch, so., OH, Manhattan; Layla Collins, sr., OH, Washburn Rural; Ryann Daggett, so., MH, Wichita North; Ella Florez, jr., S, Mill Valley; Brookelyn Hatton, sr., L, Blue Valley West; Peyton Kubik, so., OH, Blue Valley West; Leilah Perry, jr., MB, Mill Valley; Riley Riggs, so., OH, Mill Valley; Cami Sher, jr., MH, Olathe West; Ella Stowell, jr., OH, Olathe West; Logan Parks, sr., S/RS, Blue Valley North; Lily Wedman, sr., S, Blue Valley West.
CLASS 5A
Campbell Chabot, sr., S/RS, Seaman; Ava Esser, sr., OH, Seaman; Alea Goolsby, sr., OH, St. Thomas Aquinas; Mya Lee, fr., OH, St. James Academy; Grace Martin, jr., OH, St. Thomas Aquinas; Reese Messer, sr., S/MB, St. James Academy; Maegan Mills, sr., OH, Seaman; Mason Palace, jr., MB, Kapaun Mt. Carmel; McCoy Phister, jr., RS/S, Kapaun Mt. Carmel; Taylor Stanley, jr., OPP, Blue Valley Southwest; Kaylee Tingey, sr., L, Blue Valley Southwest; Kate Wells, jr., MH, St. Thomas Aquinas.
CLASS 4A
Brooke Doile, jr., MH/OH, McPherson; Ayla Klingenberg, sr., MH, Rock Creek; Raimee Lipker, so., OH, Clay Center; Lauren Lopez, sr., OH, Bishop Miege; Kenzy McArtor, sr., OH, Clearwater; Reagan McGivern, sr., MB, Hayden; Delaney Morrison, sr., L, Bishop Miege; Hailey Schmidtlein, fr., MB/RS, Hayden; Olivia Stevens, so., OH, Bishop Miege; Trinniti Stevens, sr., MB, Bishop Miege; Blakely Walter, fr., S, Hayden; Brynna Zoeller, jr., S, Rock Creek.
CLASS 3A
Bailey Bernal, so., OH, Halstead; Addison Budke, sr., OH, Beloit; Katharine Engel, jr., OH, Halstead; Hallie Holthaus, sr., S, Nemaha Central; Cali Honeyman, sr., OH, Nemaha Central; Samantha Klotz, sr., OH, Royal Valley; Prayer Roebuck, sr., RS/S, Neodesha; Piper Schroeder, so., L, Halstead; Dalaina Schutte, sr., S, Halstead; Sofia Simic, so., OH, Hoisington; Zoey Sudbeck, sr., MH, Nemaha Central; Sophia Thompson, sr., MH, Beloit.
CLASS 2A
Kennedy Behnke, sr., MH, Ellinwood; Taylor Froese, so., S/RS, Inman; Suttyn Harris, jr., OH, Inman; Katie Johnson, sr., MH, Doniphan West; Macy Karlin, so., L, Maranatha; Kyndal Moore, jr., MH, Ellinwood; Kalyn Sampson, jr., S/OH, Sedgwick; Tate Sher, sr., OH, Maranatha; Ava Smith, jr., OH, Valley Heights; Mia Vermetten, jr., OH, Valley Heights; Regan Widener, jr., RS, Ellinwood; Kenna Woods, jr., OH, Inman.
CLASS 1A DIVISION I
Oen Deters, sr., L, Centralia; Arika Feldman, jr., MH/OPP/S, Little River; Hayden Kramer, so., OH, Centralia; Avery Jensen, jr., OH, St. Francis; Mia Meyer, jr., MB, St. John; Havana Olander, jr., OH/MH, Little River; Saelyn Raleigh, jr., OH/MH, Little River; Harlee Randall, sr., MH, Flinthills; Allie Reed, sr., OH, South Gray; Lillian Steinbrock, sr., OH, Clifton-Clyde; Adelynne Strecker, jr., L, Little River; Sevy Wurtz, jr., OH/S, Clifton-Clyde.
CLASS 1A DIVISION II
Gretchen Bott, so., S, Linn; Drew Bruna, so., MH, Hanover; Autumn Coleman, jr., OH, Argonia; Lindsay Coleman, fr., OH, Argonia; Siara Crouch, sr., OH, Lebo; Saige Hadley, sr., OH, Lebo; Katie Holle, jr., S, Hanover; Abi Jones, sr., S, Lebo; Anna Jueneman, sr., OH, Hanover; Ally Scheele, jr., L, Hanover; Jill Schmeeckle, jr., S, Ingalls; Olivia Stein, jr., OH, Ingalls.
