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Created: 11 December 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The Washburn University soccer team's 2025 season came to an end Thursday evening with a 2-1 NCAA Division II semifinal defeat to Franklin Pierce in Colorado Springs.

Washburn soccer dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 decision to Franklin Pierce in Thursday's NCAA Division II semifinal in Colorado Springs. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

"Thought we played really well, thought we had a really good mentality, really proud of how our team played," Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "The program is in such a healthy place because the girls invest so much on a daily basis."

"These girls are so special,'' Washburn senior Shaye Taylor said. "This team was built on love, so much love in everything we did. I couldn't be more grateful -- these girls made it the best experience I've ever had." 

Washburn came out of the gates strong, as in the opening minute, freshman Leah Henke had a header go over the bar.

Washburn had six shots in the half, while the Ravens took four.

The second half would start the same, as Washburn had four shots in the opening 10 minutes with two on target

In the 66th minute WU freshman Kate Hinck, a Washburn Rural product, would open the scoring after a ball over the top from Sam Searcey.

Franklin Pierce would then score two goals 62 seconds apart to take a 2-1 lead late in the match and held off the Ichabods the rest of the way.

Hinck scored her seventh goal of the season while Searcey picked up her sixth assist.

Freshman goalkeeper made five saves in the match for Washburn.

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Created: 11 December 2025

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

Hayden, which advanced to the Class 3A state championship game for the third straight season, and 1A finalist Rossville combined for nine of Top 22 spots on TopSports.news' 2025 All-Shawnee County football team while the Wildcats and Bulldawgs swept offensive and defensive player of the year honors.

Kade Mitchell, Hayden

Canann Mitchell, Rossville

Jude Krentz, Hayden

Hayden senior all-purpose standout Kade Mitchell and Rossville senior quarterback Canann Mitchell were named the co-offensive players of the year for 2025 while Hayden senior Jude Krentz was named the defensive player of the year.

Kade Mitchell carried the ball 106 times for 1,003 yards, caught 23 passes for 471 yards and scored 22 total touchdowns while Canann Mitchell rushed for 1,162 yards and 21 touchdowns on 167 carries and completed 123 of 184 passes for 1,771 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Krentz led the Hayden defense with 120 tackles (61 solo) while recording six tackles for loss and picking off two passes.

Hayden's Bill Arnold and Rossville's Derick Hammes were named the co-coaches of the year while Rossville junior lineman Charlie Chance was tapped as the defensive newcomer of the year and Silver Lake freshman quarterback Kipton Kruger was named the offensive newcomer of the year.

Chance was in on 54 tackles with 14 tackles for loss and three sacks while Kruger completed 178 of 252 passes for 2,158 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Kade Mitchell and Krentz are Top 22 repeat selections, along with Seaman senior Cameron Brian, Rossville senior Conner Bush, Silver Lake senior Dayne Johnson and Shawnee Heights senior Aiden Scott.  

Hayden, which posted a 12-1 record this fall, is also represented on the Top 22 by seniors Xander Blasing, Connor Hanika and Julian McGivern and junior Mason Becker while Rossville senior Andre Johnson joins Bush and Canann Mitchell on the Top 22 after the Bulldawgs posted an 11-2 record, with both losses coming against state champions.

Washburn Rural, which posted a 6-4 record, is represented on the Top 22 by seniors Jayden Cooper, Brody Haas and John Hoytal and junior Jadyn Baum.

Senior Noah Kobuszewski joins Brian on the first team for Seaman while senior Jayden Waterer joins Dayne Johnson on the Top 22 for Silver Lake and senior AJ Gallegos joins Scott on the first team for Shawnee Heights.

Meadowlark Conference champion Highland Park put senior Tremaine Savage and junior G'Honi Montgomery on the Top 22 while Topeka High is represented by multi-time All-Centennial League selection Malachi Murph

All 10 Shawnee County high schools have representatives on either the Top 22, Second 22 or honorable mention list. Five county teams posted six or more wins this fall and four teams posted at least one win in the playoffs. 

TopSports.news selected the 2025 All-Shawnee County team after receiving input from county head coaches.

All-Shawnee County Top 22 capsules:

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Created: 11 December 2025

By CHARLES SPURLOCK

Special to TopSports.news

DESOTO -- Washburn Rural's faced tournament host De Soto in Wednesday's semifinal of the De Soto Hardwood Classic, taking a 41-28 win in a defensive struggle to advance to Saturday's the championship game.

 

The game began with both teams struggling to put the ball in the basket as Washburn Rural shot 2 of 10 from the field while De Soto was 2 of 9. At the end of the first quarter, the Junior Blues led, 8-6.

The struggles continued in the second quarter as both teams combined to make only three shots over the eight-minute period. The defense of De Soto forced nine turnovers in the half with a mixture of a three-quarter court trapping press and a stingy man-to-man defense in the halfcourt.

 

But Washburn Rural’s defense was just as stout, forcing a total of 15 turnovers, holding the Wildcats to 3-13 from the field and maintaining a two point lead at halftime, 13-11. A statistical anomaly occurred for the host school as De Soto’s only made baskets in the first half were from behind the 3-point line and they only attempted one shot from inside the line. 

 

The proverbial lid came off the basket in the third quarter as both teams exploded for double-digits in points. With just under three minutes left in the third quarter, De Soto took its first lead of the game, 20-18, on a 3-point play by junior Katie Bush.

 

After Rural tied the game at 20, De Soto’s freshman point guard, Maddie Leis, hit a 3-pointer, giving the Wildcats a 23-20 lead. Not to be outdone, Rural freshman forward Brynn Anderson knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner, sending the contest to the fourth quarter tied at 23.

 

The final quarter was dominated by the Junior Blues as they built an eight-point lead thanks to five straight points by senior Ella Hirschi. The Junior Blues made 8 of 13 shots from the field over the last eight minutes and advanced to the championship game on Saturday.

 

Washburn Rural was led by Anderson’s 11 points and five steals. Senior Hallie Walker had 8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Hirschi scored seven points along with 2 rebounds, 3 assists and two steals.

 

De Soto was led by Leis, who scored 14 points with four 3-pointers.

 

Washburn Rural advanced to the championship game to face the Liberty, Mo. Blue Jays at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

 

Liberty advanced with a 60-50 win over Shawnee Mission Northwest.

WASHBURN RURAL 41, DE SOTO 28

Washburn Rural      8   5  10   18  — 41

DeSoto                     6   5  12    5   — 28

Washburn Rural 41 (2-0) -- Rutherford 2-5 0-0 5, Hirschi 3-8 0-0 7, Walker 3-4 2-4 8, Anderson 4-15 2-2 11, Carlgren 2-4 1-2 5, Hinck 0-0, 0-0 0, Petersen 2-4 0-0 5. Totals 16-40 5-8 41.

DeSoto 28 (2-1) -- C. Leis 0-1 2-2 2, O’Brien 1-4 0-0 3, Cinotto 1-4 0-0 3, M. Leis 5-15 0-0 14, Chappel 0-3 0-0 0, Green 1-2 0-0 3, Stepp 0-0 0-0 0, Carpenter 0-0 0-0 0, Major 0-1 0-0 0, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Bush 1-3 1-1 3, Gulley 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 9-34 3-3 28.

3-point field goals -- Washburn Rural 4 (Rutherford, Hirschi, Anderson, Petersen), DeSoto 7 (M. Leis 4, O’Brien, Cinotto, Green). Total fouls -- Washburn Rural 14, DeSoto 15. Fouled out -- none. Technical Fouls -- none.

 

Trojan girls fall to Huskies, 56-35

 

Topeka High played its second game in the De Soto Hardwood Classic Wednesday against Blue Valley Northwest Huskies, with the Trojans dropping a 56-35 decision.

 

For the second consecutive game, the Trojans struggled in the first quarter and trailed 13-4. The deficit remained at nine, 22-13, going to the halftime break.

 

The Huskies pulled away in the second half for the 21-point win.

 

Topeka High will play in the seventh-place game on Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. against Shawnee Mission East, which lost to Olathe Northwest, 44-37.

 

BV NORTHWEST 56, TOPEKA HIGH 35

Topeka High    4   9    8   14   — 35

BV Northwest 13  9  16  18   — 56

 

Topeka High 35 (0-3) -- Short 0-1 2-2 2, Triplett 0-1 0-0 0, Marshall 0-12 2-2 2, Rayton 9-17 0-0 19, Gotru 4-7 1-2 9, Conley 0-0 0-0 0, Whayne 0-1 0-0 0, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Martin 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 14-42 5-6 35.

Blue Valley Northwest 56 (1-2) -- K. Becker 4-11 0-0 11, Edwards 6-11 2-2 16, R. Becker 5-11 0-0 12, Numrich 2-2 0-0 5, Cozart 4-9 1-3 9, Eils 0-0 0-0 0, Dahl 0-1 0-0 0, Domazet 0-3 1-2 1, Norton 0-2 2-2 2. Totals 21-50 6-9 56.

 

3-point field goals -- Topeka High 2 (Rayton, Martin), BV Northwest 8 (K. Becker 3, Edwards 2, R. Becker 2, Numrich). Total Fouls -- Topeka High 10, BV Northwest 12. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.

Details

Created: 10 December 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Before the 2025 season ever started, Washburn University soccer coach Davy Phillips knew his Ichabods had the potential to field a good team this fall.

Washburn soccer celebrated after last Saturday's 3-2 Elite Eight road win over Missouri-St. Louis. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

"From the very beginning we talked as a team that the purpose and the goal of the team was to maximize our potential,'' Phillips said. "And I think the potential in this group has always been there, it was just working to maximinze that.''

And early in the conference season, the Ichabods discovered they could be really, really good.

"Out of conference play you're kind of still figuring out the groove of the team, and the strengths and the weaknesses  of each individual player, but by the time conference started and we tied (Central Oklahoma) and beat (Central Missouri), we were on a roll,'' said senior midfielder Belle Kennedy, the MIAA defensive player of the year and a third-team All-American. There was nothing stopping us once we found our chemistry.''

Washburn freshman Leah Henke, the conference freshman of the year, agreed.

"Coming out first game (of conference) we tied UCO and I think we played really, really good that game,'' Henke said. "And then we beat UCM off of (Mackinly Rohn's) goal very late in the game and it was like, 'Wow, we've got something really special here. We've got everything we need to go far.' ''

And now Washburn, which is in the NCAA Division II Final Four for the second time in three seasons, is just two wins away from being the best. 

"We just keep getting better and better and I think we can go all the way,'' Henke said. "I've felt it from the beginning of the tournament. I think we've just got to play our game, stick to our game model and do what we do best.''

"The cool thing about is the group is I still feel like we're growing,'' Phillips said.

Now 14-3-6 on the season, No. 1 seed Washburn will take on No. 4 seed Franklin Pierce in a 4 p.m. (Central time) national semifinal Thursday in Colorado Springs.

Washburn advanced to the Final Four with a 3-2 road win over Missouri-St. Louis last Saturday in the Elite Eight.

Henke scored the game-winning goal against the Tritons, recording her 12th goal of the season to moved her into fourth place in program history for goals in a single season.

"I didn't really expect all of this to happen, but I'm thankful for it,'' Henke said.

Washburn soccer displayed its NCAA Final Four sign after last Saturday's 3-2 win over Missouri-St. Louis. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]

Shaye Taylor and Aubrey Tanksley scored Washburn's first two goals against UMSL while Ichabod freshman goalkeeper Lili Everley came up with five saves and now has 64 saves on the year with a save percentage of 82 percent. 

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