By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University women's soccer team begins its postseason journey with a 1 p.m. home quarterfinal match Sunday at Yager Stadium against Fort Hays State in the MIAA Tournament.
No. 16-ranked Washburn, the top tournament seed, is 13-3-2 on the season while Fort Hays State, the No. 8 seed, is 7-7-4.
The Tigers handed the Ichabods their lone conference loss, a 2-1 defeat at Hays on Oct. 27.
Washburn defeated Emporia State 2-0 in the Turnpike Tussle on Wednesday afternoon in Emporia, clinching its second straight MIAA title.
Viviana Soto-Herrera scored for Washburn in the first half while Mackinsly Rohn extended the Ichabod lead in the second half to secure the victory over the Hornets.
Senior Alli Harrington, the reigning MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week, made four saves to post her third consecutive shutout.
Senior defender Josie Boyle joined Harrington in receiving an MIAA weekly award, with Boyle earning her second Defender of the Week selection of the season.
Freshman Taylor Hill leads FHSU with five goals scored this season while Gracen Chaney and Sullivan Kelly hold the team lead with three assists each.
Mackenzie Caldwell has played 17 games in goal for the Tigers, recording 79 saves and a 0.823 save percentage. Caldwell has a goals against average of 1.04.
If the Ichabods defeat the Tigers, Washburn will advance to the MIAA semifinals held on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita. The MIAA championship will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16.
The NCAA Tournament begins on Thursday, Nov. 21 and concludes with the National Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 14.