By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's soccer, the two-time defending MIAA regular-season champion, will kick off its 2025 season at 4 p.m. Thursday at No. 25-ranked Maryville, Mo.
Davy Phillips will kick off his ninth season at Washburn with a Thursday road game at Maryville. [File photo/TSN]
Coach Davy Phillips is starting his ninth season at Washburn, with the Ichabods coming off a 14-4-3 season with a MIAA record of 10-1-1 while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.
The Ichabods return 17 players from last season's roster and added 12 newcomers, 11 of whom are freshmen.
"I'm eager to see this year's group compete and become battle-tested,'' Phillips said. "We have intentionally put together the toughest non-conference schedule in my time here, and I'm excited for the journey it will provide us to prepare for our incredibly demanding MIAA schedule.
"We have a really entertaining and hungry group, and I'm looking forward to seeing who we can become in the 2025 season."
Former Washburn Rural star Belle Kennedy returns for her senior soccer season at Washburn after earning All-MIAA first-team recognition the past two seasons. [File photo/TSN]
A top returner for the Ichabods is senior midfielder Belle Kennedy, a former Washburn Rural star who has earned back-to-back All-MIAA first-team honors. Kennedy scored three goals with one assist as a junior.
Also returning for Washburn are junior Lindsay Maul, a third-team All-MIAA pick in 2024, and senior Lakin Rold, who leads all returners in minutes played last season and received All-MIAA honorable mention last fall.
The Ichabods return three of their top six goal scorers from last season -- Kennedy, junior Washburn Rural product Mackinly Rohn (three goals) and junior Presslee Amick (two goals).
Maryville, coached by former U.S. women's national team member and FIFA Women's World Cup champion Lori Lawson, went 16-1-3 last season, losing to Grand Valley State in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
Maryville leads the Washburn series 1-0 after taking a 2-1 win in Yager Stadium last season.
Washburn will remain in the St. Louis area to face Missouri-St. Louis at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
