By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's girls soccer team has advanced to the Class 6A Final Four the past 10 seasons and Brian Hensyel's Junior Blues have extremely high hopes again this spring.
Washburn Rural senior Kate Hinck had a goal and two assists in Rural's 5-0 season-opening win over Olathe South. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Rural flashed their potential in Tuesday's season opener, rolling to a 5-0 shutout non-league victory over Olathe South at McElroy Field.
"We got to start the year with a really good opponent and any time you can play somebody from the Kansas City area and have a nice win, it's good,'' Hensyel said.
Multiple Junior Blues got a late start to practice due to Washburn Rural's appearance in the 6A state basketball tournament and Rural was out of school on spring break last week, but Hensyel was very pleased with his team's '25 debut.
"Any time in any spring sport it's just kind of crazy the first three weeks, whether it's the weather, whether it's spring break, whether it's kids still playing basketball you just have to deal with all of that and when you come back from spring break you just hope what we've practiced will work,'' Hensyel said. "We've got a lot to work on, but we had a pretty nice first game.''
Washburn Rural senior Zahra Friess had a goal and an assist in Rural's 5-0 season-opening win over Olathe South. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
The Junior Blues, who have placed third in 6A the past two seasons, got the only goal they would need at the 31:14 mark of the opening half on a goal from senior newcomer Zahra Friess and Rural also got first-half goals from seniors Delaney Hill and senior Kate Hinck to build a commanding 3-0 halftime advantage.
Rural added second-half goals from junior Peyton Merrick and sophomore Emery Hall to finish off the shutout.
Hinck was credited with a pair of assists while Friess and junior Allie Schroeder were also credited with assists.
Seniors Madison Lemke and Hailey Davin combined for the shutout in goal for the Junior Blues.
Washburn Rural will be back at home Friday to host Kapaun-Mt. Carmel in a non-league contest.
WASHBURN RURAL 5, OLATHE SOUTH 0
Olathe South (0-1-0) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn Rural (1-0-0) 3 2 -- 5
Washburn Rural -- Goals: Zahra Friess, Delaney Hill, Kate Hinck, Peyton Merrick, Emery Hall. Assists: Kate Hinck 2, Zahra Friess, Allie Schroeder. Shutout: Madison Lemke, Hailey Davin.
