By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shortly after arriving on Washburn University's campus in 2019, Raegan Wells earned the job as the Ichabods' soccer goalkeeper and has never looked back.
Raegan Wells
Wells has started all 40 matches of her college career entering Friday's 6 p.m. home MIAA match against Emporia State at Yager Stadium and continues to move up WU's all-time list in multiple categories.
"Every since I've been here since Day 1 my teammates have put trust in me and I put trust in them,'' said the 6-foot Wells, a Lincoln, Neb. native. "My defense has been there for me so it was like a fast transition (to college), but an easy one because me teammates were so good.''
Wells, who also plays basketball for the Ichabods, said that with each passing season she gets more comfortable in the net, which has translated to more and more success.
"My teammates give me a lot of confidence, too, because when I know they're doing their job I can do my job.''
Raegan Wells has posted three shutouts this season, helping lead Washburn soccer to a 3-0-1 start. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Wells helped lead Washburn to a solid 9-7-2 season a year ago while earning third-team All-MIAA recognition and the Ichabods are off to a 3-0-1 start this season, with Wells already earning three shutouts.
"Coach (Davy Phillips) and I were actually just talking and the vibe of our team is so good,'' Wells said. "We show up to practice with energy and we are all on the same page and its been really good. Obviously it shows on the field.''
Wells, who will finish her college career in 2023, is well on her way to ending up as one of the most successful goalkeepers in Washburn history, although she said she really doesn't pay much attention to all-time lists and the like.
"I haven't looked at them, I just take the games day by day,'' said Wells, a communications major.
Wells is currently WU's all-time leader in career save percentage, third in saves per game, fourth in most career shutouts and wins and fifth in total saves.
And statistics aside, Wells said her Washburn career has been everything she thought it could be.
"I got to play right away, I met a bunch of amazing people and we've been pretty successful,'' Wells said. "This season seems different than last season because it's just like everyone's finally on the same page and we're going to do really well.''
Adding icing on the cake has been the opportunity to play with her younger sister, Riley, a sophomore for the Ichabods.
"Me and my sister played in high school together, basketball and soccer, so it's kind of the same but it' s just so fun,'' Raegan Wells said. "She scored her first career goal and I got to see that playing with her on the field.
"That's another reason I'm going to stay (for her COVID year in 2023) is because I get to play one more year with her.''
