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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University soccer coach Davy Phillips became the school's all-time wins leader on Friday in Mankato, Minn. as the Ichabods advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 victory over Missouri Western.

Davy Phillips became Washburn soccer's career wins leader on Friday with a 2-0 NCAA Central Region win over Missouri Western. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

Freshman standouts Kate Hinck and Leah Henke scored Washburn's goals, one in each half, as the Ichabods improved to 12-3-5 and advanced to Sunday's 1 p.m. game to face No. 1 seed and regional host Minnesota State-Mankato.

Phillips picked up Washburn win No. 91 to take over the top spot on the school's career victory list.

"I thought they played really, really well,'' Phillips said. "I thought the girls brought a terrific mentality and put on a really good performance today. Really happy with what they could do on the field today."

The opening 10 minutes were controlled by the Griffons, who attempted two shots on goal in that span.

Freshman Kate Hinck scored the only goal Washburn would need in Friday's 2-0 Central Region win over Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]

It would be a back-and-forth game until the 33rd minute when Hinck took a pass from fellow freshman Henke and found the back of the net to give Washburn a 1-0 halftime advantage. Freshman goalkeeper Lili Everley made four saves in the opening 45 minutes.

Washburn would start the second half with three shots in the opening five minutes, with two of them being on goal.

Freshman Leah Henke scored her 10th goal of the season in Friday's 2-0 Washburn Central Region win over Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]

The Ichabods would continue to apply pressure and broke through again in the 65th minute with Henke scoring off an assist from sophomore Sam Searcey.

Washburn, which battled Western to an 0-0 tie in the regular season, out-shot the Griffons 15-14, and both teams had eight shots on goal.

Everley made a career-high eight saves in the match.

Henke scored her 10th goal of the season, putting her fifth in Washburn history for most goals in a single season, and second-most by a freshman in a single season behind Jessica Mainz's 13 goals in 2005.

Hinck, the former Wasburn Rural star, recorded her sixth goal of her freshman campaign, tying her for 18th for the most goals for WU in a single season.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

No. 3 seed Washburn University won a second straight 3-1 match Friday in St. Joseph, Mo., knocking off No. 7-seeded Pittsburg State to advance to the MIAA Championship match.

No. 3 seed Washburn volleyball is headed to the championship match in the MIAA Tournament after a 3-1 win over Pittsburg State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

The Ichabods will face top seed and No. 3 nationally-ranked Nebraska Kearney at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Just like in the quarterfinals, Washburn (26-3) won the opening set, this time 25-19, before falling in the second, 25-22. But the Ichabods bounced back to defeat the 14-15 Gorillas, 25-22, 25-20 to close out the match and earn their first MIAA Championship match appearance since 2022.

A 5-0 run early in the first set was capped by a kill from Keilah Rivers to put Washburn up 10-3.

The lead grew to double-digits in the middle of a four-point burst that included three more kills by Rivers.

Pittsburg State went on a 5-0 run late in the set to pull within four points at 23-19. Washburn closed out the set with two points in a row as Rivers slashed her sixth kill of the set to end it.

The Gorillas bounced back quickly, jumping out to a 7-2 lead in the second.

The Ichabods kept it close and got within one point after a 5-1 run and kill by Austin Broadie.

Both sides traded runs, first with six for Pittsburg State followed by five in a row for Washburn. After pulling within one point and holding off set point once the Ichabods fell 25-22 as the match was evened.

In the third set the Gorillas got off to a quick start again, leading 11-7.

The deficit for Washburn grew to as many as six before the Ichabods won seven straight points, going in front 18-17 on a kill by Broadie on a dish from Autumn Gibbs.

The Ichabods created separation, winning five of six points to lead 23-19 after Emery Keebaugh and Bella Limback combined for a block. Shortly after Limback closed out the set with a kill to win 25-22.

The Ichabods built an 8-4 lead to begin the fourth set after Sydney Conner set up Brynne Topolski for a kill.

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Hayden entered Friday's Class 3A state semifinal against Santa Fe Trail without injured senior Kade Mitchell, one of its top players on offense, defense and special teams.

But Mitchell's teammates quickly picked up the slack, none more than junior Mason Becker, as Hayden rolled to its third straight state title game appearance with a 46-0 home romp past previously-unbeaten Santa Trail.

Hayden's seniors celebrate the Wildcats' Class 3A sub-state championship after Friday's 46-0 win over Santa Fe Trail. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Taking over for Mitchell at halfback, Becker rushed for 201 yards on 14 carries, including touchdown runs of 53 and 65 yards, while also kicking a 25-yard field and three of three extra points and completing a 2-point conversion pass, as Hayden reeled off its 12th straight victory.

Hayden junior Mason Becker ran for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Friday's 46-0 Class 3A semifinal victory over Santa Fe Trail. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

"Kade's a good player, he's a competitor out there, but Mason's grown into it,'' Hayden coach Bill Arnold said. "He's got some speed and he does a really, really good job of reading the blocks in front of him, probably better than anybody else on the team, honestly.

"I'm proud of them. We've got some good players out here that are in a situation where they've got seniors in front of them with the experience. They're all getting better and we've still got some room for growth, so we hope this next week we get some good practices in.''

Becker played running back earlier in his carrier, which helped make filling in for Mitchell an easy transition.

"I like it,'' Becker said. "I don't care. I can play anywhere, it doesn't matter to me.''

Hayden senior Jackson McGivern (36) scored the game's first touchdown in Friday's 46-0 win over Santa Fe Trail. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

After recovering Santa Fe Trail's onsides kick attempt to open the game, Hayden scored the only touchdown it would need on a 10-yard run from senior Jackson McGivern just 1:46 in the first quarter.

Hayden senior Makhi Kidd (5) celebrates his 28-yard TD reception from Connor Hanika in Friday's 46-0 win over Santa Fe Trail. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

An interception from senior Logan Saenz set up a one-play Wildcat scoring drive, a 28-yard TD strike from senior quarterback Connor Hanika to senior Makhi Kidd followed by a 2-point conversion to put Hayden in front 14-0.

After taking over on downs after Santa Fe Trail made a rare drive into Hayden territory, Becker burst loose for his 53-yard TD two plays later and hit junior Daniel Moore for a 2-point conversion and the rout was on.

"That was a big momentum switch,'' Becker said. "I saw the seam and I just went and scored.''

Hayden forced a Santa Fe Trail punt on the Chargers' next possession and senior Jude Krentz scored from a yard out (Becker kick) to cap the Wildcats' 29-point first-quarter onslaught with 10 seconds remaining.

The Wildcats tacked on Becker's 25-yard field goal with 38 seconds left in the half to put Hayden in command 32-0 at the break.

Krentz scored his second touchdown of the night on a 15-yard run midway through the third quarter before Becker ended the scoring on his 65-yard TD with 5:05 remaining, forcing a running clock the rest of the way.

Senior Julion Daniels led 11-1 Santa Fe Trail with 59 rushing yards on 14 attempts while junior Trevin Cox, one of three quarterbacks used by the Chargers, passed for 104 yards.

Santa Fe Trail starting quarterback Rigley Sleichter did not return after being injured in the first half.

With Friday's win Hayden advances to face 12-0 Andale, a 41-7 winner over Rock Creek, in the 3A championship game for the second straight season.

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Davy Phillips becomes Washburn soccer's all-time wins leader in 2-0 Central Region win

No. 3 seed Washburn volleyball earns shot at MIAA Tournament title with 3-1 win over Gorillas

Becker leads way as Hayden rolls to third straight Class 3A final with 46-0 romp past Chargers

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