By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Graduation wasn't kind to the Washburn University women's soccer team, with Davy Phillips' Ichabods losing 10 seniors, including four all-conference picks from last fall's 14-4-3 team.
Washburn soccer, back-to-back MIAA champions, opened preseason practice on Monday after posting a 14-4-3 record in 2024. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods also lost standout second-team all-conference goalkeeper Hailey Beck, who was forced to step away from competition due to injuries.
But the expectations remain sky-high for an Ichabod program that has won back-to-back conference championships while advancing to the NCAA Tournament both seasons, including a runnerup national finish two seasons ago.
"(Sunday) was the first day or meetings and we talked about how we continue the same standard and expectations,'' said Phillips, who has posted a 79-50-12 record in seven previous seasons at WU. "We have a really solid group of returners who had a fantastic spring and that was kind of the first experience without all those (graduated) players. So the spring was really valuable for all of our returners and then this may be the best recruiting class we've had.
"I'm excited to get back to teaching without all those experienced groups that have been here sometimes for five years, some of those COVID seniors. We got to a point where we were just kind of managing expectations. Everyone knew their job, new their role, so this is kind of fun -- new, fresh what we're teaching -- but still adhering to those standards and expectations that have provided success for us so far.''
Washburn's graduation losses included All-MIAA and All-Central Region first-teamers Khloe Schuckman and Josie Boyle, but the Ichabods return former Washburn Rural star Belle Kennedy, an All-MIAA first-team pick and All-Central Region second-team selection a year ago, as well as Lindsey Maul (third-team All-MIAA) and Lakin Rold (All-MIAA honorable mention) to build this year's team around.
Phillips is also confident that several newcomers can make an immediate impact for the Ichabods, who will be aiming for their fifth straight winning season.
That group includes former Washburn Rural stars Kate Hinck and Destiny Higgs, who helped lead the Junior Blues to their first-ever Class 6A girls state championship this past spring. Hinck ended her high school career as Rural's career goals leader while both Hinck and Higgs earned All-State recognition.
"What's incredible is the winning pedigree that this class has,'' Phillips said. "There's so many state champions, from Nebraska, (Class) 5A, 6A here in Kansas. I think they were all either first or second-team All-State kids and it's just a really solid class.
"And when you add that to those returners who have won back-to-back conference championships, there's just a winning pedigree and kids know how to win. Our first session (Monday) morning, my goodness it was so competitive. You could tell they all come from winning backgrounds and know what it looks like, what it sounds like and all of that stuff.''
