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Washburn soccer books spot in Elite Eight with 1-0 win over St. Cloud State
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University soccer team won the NCAA Central Region Championship Sunday with a 1-0 win over St. Cloud State in St. Joseph, Minn., and is advancing to the Elite Eight.
Washburn celebrates its NCAA Central Region championship in the snow Sunday in St. Joseph, Minn. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"I thought our defensive organization was really good, thought we were hard to break down, and we believe that we will always have a chance to score a goal," Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "It's fun playing in these different environments that you don't usually play in. I'm proud of the team and how we attacked today with confidence and were so tough in the elements -- true warriors!"
"I think our grit plays a big part in it,'' Washburn senior Belle Kennedy said. "We don't take anything for granted, we accept all conditions, and any challenges we face."
Washburn, now 13-3-6, had shots in the opening two minutes by Grace Peterson and Kate Hinck that were saved.
In the last minute of the half, the Ichabods had three shots saved by the Huskies' goalie.
Washburn outshot St. Cloud, 8-1, and had five corners to just one by the Huskies in the opening 45 minutes.
It was a back-and-forth start to the second half, with both teams having a shot on goal in the opening 10 minutes.
Washburn would have a header by Peterson in the 68th minute put into the side netting.
The Ichabods finally got the breakthrough goal in the 75th minute from senior Aubrey Tanksley, who headed home a corner by Bricelyn Betts.
Tanksley's goal was her first of the season and seventh of her Washburn career while Betts recorded her third assist of the year.
Washburn was able to close out the match from there to win the region championship and move on to the Elite Eight for the second time in school history.
The Ichabods recorded their 13th clean sheet of the year.
Washburn outshot St. Cloud State, 12-5, and took seven corners in the match.
Freshman goalkeeper Lili Everley now has 10 shutouts on the season.
Washburn will take on the Midwest Region Champion, Missouri-St. Louis, in the Elite Eight on Saturday for a spot in the Final Four. The site and game time have yet to be confirmed.
Hayden football coaching legend Tom Stringer passes away at 64 years old
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden football coaching legend Tom Stringer passed away Friday at the age of 64 years old.
Tom Stringer visits with John Tetuan, the star quarterback on his undefeated 1998 Class 4A state championship team, during Stringer's Hayden Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2023. [File photo/TSN]
A 1979 Hayden graduate, Stringer went on to earn first-team All-America honors at Pittsburg State as an offensive lineman before returning to Hayden where he served as head football coach from 1992-2006, leading the Wildcats to the school's first Class 4A state championsip in 1998 with a 13-0 record before adding a second undefeated state title in 2004.
A member of the Pittsburg State Athletics Hall of Fame, Stringer was inducted into the Hayden Catholic Hall of Fame in 2023 and said that being back at the school that meant so much to him throughout his life was extra sweet.
Tom Stringer, who passed away Friday at the age of 64, was inducted into the Hayden Hall of Fame in 2023 and is also a member of the Pittsburg State Athletic Hall of Fame. [File photo/TSN]
"It's really special because you get to re-live one of the best parts of your life,'' Stringer said on the night of his induction. "You don't know how bad you liked something until you get away from it, so this is good. I'm very proud and very grateful that I got selected to do this. It's been 17 years since I've been here and every day I think about this place. Every day.''
Stringer will be inducted into the Kansas Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Kansas Star Casino.
Stringer's Hayden teams won the Centennial League championship seven times and he achieved a career record of 131-35 during his 15 seasons as the Wildcats' head coach.
Stringer coached in the Kansas Shrine Bowl four times (twice as head coach).
No. 2 Washburn men overwhelm Ottawa in 85-point win
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 2-ranked Washburn Ichabods left no doubt in a record-setting performance on Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 115-30 victory over Ottawa in Lee Arena as the Ichabods improved to 8-0 on the season.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen scored a game-high 20 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field in Saturday's 115-30 Washburn win over Ottawa. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Jeremiah Jones scored 18 points on 8 of 10 shooting and grabbed six rebounds in Washburn's 115-30 win over Ottawa Saturday in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn dominated in most every phase of the game, shooting 58 percent from the field, forcing 33 turnovers and outscoring the Braves 64-10 in the paint.
"I thought we respected the opponent and we were able to take their confidence away early, which is what you want to do against a team that you feel like you're probably a little more talented than,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said.
"I'm really happy with how we came out, business-like, and the respect level was there and then we took their confidence, so all three phases were good.''
The Ichabods will remain in Lee Arena next week to open their MIAA schedule, hosting Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday and Fort Hays State on Saturday.
After a brief 3-2 Ottawa lead, the Braves' only advantage of the day, Washburn went on a 19-0 run to take control.
By halftime the Ichabods had turned 23 Ottawa turnovers into 30 points, taking a huge 60-17 advantage into the break behind 52 percent shooting from the field and an 8-of-17 mark from 3-point range.
The second half was even more overwhelming as Washburn opened the period with a 26-0 run that ballooned the margin to 86 points, the team's largest lead of the day.
The Ichabods shot 66 percent in the final 20 minutes and registered 14 more steals and 30 additional points off turnovers.
Sophomore Dillon Claussen finished with 20 points, six rebounds, five steals, and two blocks while going 7 of 11 from the field.
Ichabod junior newcomer Jeremiah Jones added 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting, pulled down six rebounds and said he continues to feel more and more at ease in the Washburn system.
"It's definitely a stepping stone every game,'' Jones said. "No matter the competition I feel like the chemistry goes up every single game, our defensive intensity goes up every single game and I'm starting to get comfortable with the team.''
Junior Jack Bachelor scored 16 points with four 3-pointers in Washburn's 115-30 win over Ottawa Saturday in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Jack Bachelor recorded 14 points with four 3-pointers and six assists as the Ichabods drilled 13 three-pointers on the afternoon.
Sophomore Tyson Ruud slams home a dunk in Washburn's 115-30 win over Ottawa Saturday in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Tyson Ruud came off the bench to score 13 points and grab a game-high seven rebounds while Marcus Glock hit three threes and also finished with 13 points.
Senior Sam Ungashick had eight points (two 3s), six assists, and five steals as Washburn's bench accounted for 49 points.
