By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After suffering a pair of tough home losses to open the 2024 season, Davy Phillips' Washburn University soccer team posted a pair of shutout victories last weekend to get back on track.
After dropping a 2-0 season-opening loss to Missouri-St. Louis and a 2-1 loss to Maryville, the Ichabods defeated Southwest Minnesota State 2-0 and Wayne State College, 1-0 to even their record at 2-2.
Senior forward Riley Wells helped Washburn University soccer post a pair of shutout victories last weekend. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"Davy knew those were tough teams coming into it and he warned us about that, so we got those out of the way, we got the losses out of the way, and especially getting six points last weekend it was huge for us and for confidence,'' Washburn senior forward Riley Wells said.
"The vibes weren't great (after the season-opening losses), but I think that next week in practice we just continued to work harder and get better and fine tune the things that we needed to work on. We didn't get too down on ourselves and we knew we were better than that.''
Now the Ichabods will be looking to keep rolling when they conclude their non-conference schedule with a pair of neutral site contests against the Black Hills State (S.D.) Yellow Jackets and Western Colorado Mountaineers Friday and Sunday.
"I think we stepped up last weekend and I think this streak will continue if we work together and continue to get better each week,'' said Wells, who has scored seven goals with seven assists in her WU career.
Both games will be played in Kearney, Neb. at the facilities of fellow MIAA member Nebraska-Kearney. The Ichabods will face the Yellow Jackets on Friday and the Mountaineers on Sunday, with both matches scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m.
The Ichabods, the NCAA Division II national runnerup last season, are ranked 20th in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Women's National poll.
Wells and fellow senior Khloe Schuckman scored their first goals of the 2024 campaign in the win over Southwest Minnesota State, while the Ichabod defense held the Mustangs without a shot until the 80th minute.
Former Washburn Rural star Belle Kennedy scored her first goal of the season in the victory over Wayne State. Kennedy stole the ball from a Wildcat player and took it all the way to the goal.
Rural product Hailey Beck posted back-to-back shutouts in goal for the Ichabods. Beck made a career-high five saves in the victory over Wayne State.
Schuckman is four goals away from 30 for her career and one assist away from 10 for her career.
After this weekend's non-conference finales Washburn will return home to begin MIAA play against Central Oklahoma on Friday, Sep. 27 (6 p.m.). The Ichabods will face Newman at home on Sunday, Sep. 29 (1 p.m.).
Black Hills State is 0-2-2 this season after going 3-12-2 in 2023.
The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 0-0 draw with Minnesota-Crookston, their second shutout of the year.
Jayda Hammer returns for her junior season after leading the Yellow Jackets with four goals in 2023.
Western Colorado is 1-3-0 this season after going 4-11-3 in 2023.
The Mountaineers are coming off a two-game homestand where they defeated Eastern New Mexico 1-0 and were defeated by St. Edwards, 2-0.
Western Colorado will face Nebraska-Kearney on Friday before Sunday's meeting with the Ichabods.
Cianna Thomas leads the Mountaineers with two goals scored, including the lone goal scored in the win over Eastern New Mexico.
