By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Universtity women's soccer team will hit the road for the first time in the 2024 season with weekend contests against the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs and Wayne State College Wildcats.
Washburn will face the Mustangs at 3 p.m. on Friday in Marshall, Minn. and the Wildcats at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Wayne, Neb.
The Ichabods will be looking for to crack the victory column after dropping a pair of home contests last weekend, 2-0 to Missouri-St. Louis and 2-1 to Maryville.
This is the second season in a row that Washburn has played Southwest Minnesota State and Wayne State, hosting both schools last year at Yager Stadium. The Ichabods defeated the Mustangs 4-0 and the Wildcats 4-1.
Despite last weekend's losses, Washburn out-shot both opponents. The Ichabods led Missouri-St. Louis in shots by an 11-3 margin, with both teams recording three shots on goal. Washburn led Maryville 13-6, with the Ichabods recording six shots on goal to the Saints' four.
Senior Cloe Quintana recorded her first collegiate goal in the against Maryville. Quintana has made 61 appearances in her career for the Ichabods, tallying 3,294 minutes played.
Senior Ana Muruzabal assisted on Quintana's goal against Maryville. Muruzabal tallied three assists last season to go along with eight goals.
Senior Khloe Schuckman leads Washburn with six shots taken across the Ichabods' two games.
Sophomore Hailey Beck, a Washburn Rural product, made her first two starts in goal last week, recording a total of three saves in 180 minutes played.
Southwest Minnesota State is 0-2-0 this season after going 6-10-1 in 2023.
The Mustangs dropped two neutral-site contests to West Florida and Emporia State in Mankato, Minn., both by a 3-0 scores.
Haley Mason and Selena Prolic return after sharing the team lead in goals in 2023 with three each.
Wayne State is 1-0-1 this season after going 7-8-3 in 2023.
The Wildcats opened the season with two home games, playing Northwestern Oklahoma State to a 0-0 draw and defeating William Jewell, 4-0.
The Wildcats will travel to Division I opponent South Dakota State Thursday before facing the Ichabods.
Maia Vacks, Jordan Bedard, Abby Evers and Mackenzie Wright scored goals for Wayne State against William Jewell. Vacks also added one assist to lead the team with three total points.
Washburn will travel to Kearney, Neb. for two neutral-site games against Black Hills State on Sept. 20 and Western Colorado on Sept. 22.
The Ichabods begin MIAA play at home against Central Oklahoma on Sept. 27.