By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University women's soccer team earned a MIAA road win on Friday night, defeating the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers 3-0 in Kearney, Neb.
Topekan Belle Kennedy (12) scored the game's first goal in Friday's 3-0 Washburn soccer win at Nebraska-Kearney. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The two teams were unable to score in the first half, with shot attempts hard to come by for both squads. Washburn had opportunities to score from scrambles in the Lopers' six-yard box, but the Loper defense was able to clear the ball each time.
The second half proved to be a polar opposite of the first, with the Ichabods kicking off and taking the lead within the first minute.
Former Washburn Rural star Belle Kennedy, a junior, found the bottom left corner of the net after receiving a well-placed pass from Shaye Taylor, giving Taylor her first assist in a Washburn uniform.
Washburn would extend its lead in the 69th minute when an Aubrey Tanksley cross found senior Khloe Schuckman, whose high-powered shot from the edge of the penalty box found the top of the goal to put the Ichabods up 2-0.
The Ichabods put the finishing touches on the road victory in the 83rd minute off a Jadyn Allen header, the senior's first goal of the 2024 campaign. Cloe Quintana picked up her first career assist, launching a pass high into the air for Allen to put past the Loper goalkeeper.
Washburn took seven shots in the contest, with six of them coming in the second half.
Schuckman and Kennedy led the Ichabods in offensive production, recording two shots each.
Sophomore Hailey Becker, a Washburn Rural product, recorded two saves in net as the Washburn defense posted its seventh straight shutout, extending the WU school record for consecutive minutes played without a goal allowed to 658 minutes and 44 seconds.
Nebraska-Kearney took five shots in the match, with two coming on goal. Hanna Schimmer led the Lopers with two shots.
The Ichabods will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 11, when they return to Yager Stadium to face off against Missouri Southern. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
