By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 16-ranked Washburn University women's soccer team will close out the 2024 regular season with a Turnpike Tussle clash at Emporia State at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Washburn senior Josie Boyle (7) receives a hug from teammate Ana Muruzabal after scoring the game-winning goal in Sunday's 1-0 win over No. 15-ranked Missouri Western. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And although the ESU game is not technically a playoff game, WU coach Davy Phillips is approaching Wednesday's contest and every remaining game with that mindset.
"We're competing for a conference championship on Wednesday, then we're in the conference tournament for playoffs and the national tournament, so from here on out we're in must-win situations in a lot of different ways,'' Phillips said.
The Ichabods can claim the MIAA regular-season title with a victory or a share of the title with a draw. The Ichabods remain in a tie with Central Missouri for second place in the MIAA, one point behind Missouri Western. The Jennies and Griffons have completed their regular season.
Washburn is 12-3-2 overall and 9-1-1 in the MIAA while Emporia State is 6-7-3 overall and 4-5-2 in the conference.
Washburn earned two big home wins this past weekend, defeating Northwest Missouri 2-0 before knocking off Missouri Western, 1-0.
After a scoreless first half against Northwest Missouri last Friday, senior Khloe Schuckman scored two goals to give Washburn the victory. Schuckman scored her seventh and eighth goals of the season against Bearcats, extending her team lead. Schuckman now has 33 goals for her career.
On Senior Day, Washburn and Missouri Western played 78 scoreless minutes before senior Josie Boyle gave the Ichabods the lead with a header off of a corner kick from Aubrey Tanksley. Boyle was named the MIAA defensive player of the week.
Senior Alli Harrington picked up the shutout in goal in both WU wins and was named the MIAA goalkeeper of the week. Harrington made seven saves against No. 15 Missouri Western, the most by an Ichabod goalkeeper this season.
The MIAA Championship Tournament begins on Sunday, Nov. 10 with the quarterfinals taking place on campus sites of the top four seeds.
Last week Emporia State earned a 1-1 draw at home against Missouri Western and defeated Northwest Missouri 1-0 on the road.
Senior forward Hadlie Lowe leads ESU with five goals scored, while adding one assist for a team-high 11 points.
Junior defender Abby Bachman leads the Hornets with four assists. Bachman has also scored two goals, placing second on the team with eight points.
Former Topeka High star Avery Zimmerman, a freshman, has pleased in all 16 games for the Hornets, with 10 starts. Zimmerman has scored one goal.
Washburn is 19-18-4 all-time against Emporia State.
The Ichabods and Hornets faced off four times in the 2023 season, splitting the season series 2-2.
