By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer is set for its first-ever national semifinal appearance on Thursday, taking on Adelphi University at 1 p.m. at the Sportplex in Matthews, N.C.
Junior Khloe Schuckman leads Washburn with 11 goals entering Thursday's NCAA semifinal contest in Matthews, N.C. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Davy Phillips' Washburn soccer team is two wins a way from a national championship entering this week's final four in Matthews, N.C. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods earned their historic final four berth with a 1-0 win in the national quarterfinals over Grand Valley State in Ashland, Ohio.
All four remaining teams were re-seeded for the final four, with the Ichabods being selected as the No. 3 seed and Adelphi No. 2. On the other side of the bracket No. 1 Florida Tech will face No. 4 Point Loma at 10 a.m. on Friday.
The national championship match will be played at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
This is the third appearance in the NCAA Tournament in program history for Washburn, and the first since the 2008 season.
The Ichabods are 6-2 in NCAA Tournament matches after adding four wins to begin this season's tournament run.
All matches for this week's tournament will be live streamed on the NCAA website at no charge.
Washburn enters the semifinals with a 20-3-1 record.
Washburn has set a program record with 20 wins this season and will break the program record for matches played in a season on Thursday, with the semifinals being the Ichabods' 25th match of the year.
Khloe Schuckman has scored five goals in the NCAA Tournament run, with three going for game-winners and two coming in overtime.
Schuckman is tied for second nationally with seven game-winning goals this season. She leads Washburn in both points and goals with 27 and 11, respectively. She is also second on the Ichabods with five assists while leading with 63 shots on the year.
Raegan Wells has played every minute of the tournament and recorded two shutouts.
Wells is tied for fifth in the nation in solo shutouts with 12 on the year.
Grace Peterson scored the match-winning goal against Grand Valley State in the 81st minute, the first goal of Peterson's collegiate career.
Washburn Rural product Mackinly Rohn leads the Ichabods with seven assists on the year. She's also scored three goals to sit tied for third on the team with 13 points. She has started all but two matches and logged 1,438 minutes as a freshman.
Adelphi University enters the final four with a 15-3-5 record on the year
The Panthers defeated Gannon University 1-0 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals
Gia Mandile leads the Panthers offense with 20 points on the year coming on eight goals and four assists. She has started 11 matches and played in 21 for 1,006 minutes.
Kayleigh Goodrich is second on the squad in scoring at 17 points on six goals and five assists. She has played in 19 matches and logged 1,523 minutes.
The Panthers have allowed only one goal in the NCAA Tournament.
With a win Washburn would face the winner of No. 1. Florida Tech and No. 4 Point Loma on Saturday.
