By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the first time in five seasons Washburn University soccer will have a new goalkeeper this fall, with four-year starter Raegan Wells graduating after a record-setting career, capped by a trip to the national championship game last fall.
Hailey Beck
Now former Washburn Rural standout Hailey Beck wants to do everything she can to earn the chance to help fill that spot for the Ichabods.
Beck was one of Wells' two backups during the 2023 season and said she tried to learn everything she could from the Washburn veteran.
"I was able to pick up a ton from her,'' Beck said during Monday's Washburn Media Day. "It was just amazing, getting to watch her do her thing and being able to apply things that she does in a game to my own style of play and how I play so I got to learn a lot of really great lessons from her.''
Beck said the key now is to put what she learned as a freshman to good use as she tries to earn to the starting job in net for Washburn.
"I've just got to stick to what I know and what I can do and allow others to help build me up along the way and just take notes along the way and help myself grow,'' said Beck, who was a standout in both soccer and tennis for Washburn Rural.
Former Washburn Rural standout Hailey Beck is starting her second soccer season at Washburn University. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
As she begins her second season at Washburn, Beck said she knows she made the right decision when she opted to sign with the home-town Ichabods.
"This team has been everything I could ask for,'' Beck said. "They're supportive, they're encouraging. They just want you to be the best version of yourself and that's not only helped me grow as a soccer player but also as a person out in the world as well.''
An added bonus for Beck is the fact that she gets to share the college experience with three other former Washburn Rural teammates -- juniors Belle Kennedy and Hunter McWilliams and sophomore Mackinly Rohn.
"It's been so cool,'' Beck said. "It's been a great experience getting to compete at that next level with those people that I have played with for so long. Mackinly and I have played together since we were really, really young in club, so it's been really cool getting to experience this together.''
Washburn, which posted a 21-4-1 record last fall, will open its 2024 season on Sept. 5 at Yager Stadium against Missouri-St. Louis (6 p.m. start).
The Ichabods will also be at home on Sept. 7 to face Maryville (1 p.m.).
