By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 23-ranked Washburn University soccer scored a goal just 5 minutes, 13 seconds into Sunday's MIAA match at Yager Stadium and spent the final 84 minutes-plus making that goal stand up.
The Ichabods, who improved to 12-1-1 overall and 6-0-1 in the MIAA accomplished that task in impressive fashion, posting a 1-0 shutout over No. 8-ranked Central Missouri (10-3-1, 5-1-1) while giving WU coach Davy Phillips his 100th career coaching win.and snapping a 17-match losing streak against the Jennies.
Washburn's Khloe Schuckman (11) and her Ichabod teammates celebrate Sunday's 1-0 MIAA soccer win over No. 8-ranked Central Missouri. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"This one is huge, defeating a No. 8 team in the nation,'' said Schuckman, who scored the game's only goal. "That's incredible and we've never beaten UCM since I've been here.''
"It's definitely a step,'' Phillips said. "We've talked about being on a journey all season and no matter what comes, we've got to figure out the next step. This, I think, validates some of those thoughts that we can go play with anyone at any time and go get a result.''
Washburn got the only goal it woulc need early in the match when Riley Wells beat the UCM defense down the right side of the field and dished to Schuckman who was open in the middle of the box and was able to knock in the ball into the left side of the net.
"Riley Wells took on two defenders and saw me in the middle wide open and I was able to finish it and put it away,'' Schuckman said.
Washburn was only able to manage one more shot in the first half with Central Missouri on the offensive.
The Jennies earned four corner kicks in the first half alone but were held in check by the Ichabod defense.
Senior goalkeeper Raegan Wells made three saves on UCM's four shot in the half..
In the second half Central Missouri still managed four corner kicks to the Ichabods' three, but the shot attempts were flipped from the first half with Washburn taking four and the Washburn defense holding the attacking Jennies offense to just one shot in the final 45 minutes.
The defensive quartet of Taylor Bockover, Josie Boyle, Lakin Rold and Jordan Tenpas played all 90 minutes of the match en route to Washburn's eighth shutout of the season.
Raegan Wells went the distance in goat to earn her seventh solo shutout of the season while WU surpassed its win total from the 2022 season when the Ichabods won 11 games.
"They've been terrific all year and we've limited some really good teams to zero goals, which is incredible,'' Phillips said. "That was another example today.''
Kristen Wright played all 90 minutes of the match in goal for Central Missouri which lost its first match of the season in MIAA play.
Washburn's soccer team congratulates Ichabod coach Davy Phillips on his 100th career coaching win Sunday in Yager Stadium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Phillips credited his players and assistant coaches for allowing him to reach the 100-win milestone.
"It means I've had a terrific staff and terrific players that I've coached,'' Phillips said. "I don't go and win any of the games out there, so I just put them in positions to iwn but they've got to go execute so I'm thankfurl for a terrific staff and thankful for terrific players along the way.''
The Ichabods go on the road to face Central Oklahoma at 4 p.m. on Friday.
WASHBURN 1, CENTRAL MISSOURI 0
Central Missouri (10-3-1) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn (12-1-1) 1 0 -- 1
Washburn -- Goal: Khloe Schuckman. Assist: Riley Wells. Shutout: Raegan Wells.
