By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabod women's soccer team will begin a four-game road trip this weekend with matches against the Northeastern State RiverHawks and the Rogers State Hillcats.
The Ichabods, No. 16 spot in the USC National poll, will take on the RiverHawks at 7 p.m. on Friday before facing the Hillcats at 1 p.m.
No. 16-ranked Washburn soccer will put its 7-2-2 record on the line with a pair of MIAA road games this weekend in Oklahoma. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn is 7-2-2 on the season and currently in a tie for second place in the MIAA with a 4-0-1 record. Washburn and Central Missouri sit five points behind league-leader Missouri Western.
Washburn picked up a pair of home conference victories over Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State last week, each by a 3-0 margin.
Missouri Southern held the Ichabods scoreless in the first half, but Washburn exploded for three goals in the second half to earn the victory. Washburn defeated Pittsburg State in the first-ever matchup between the two schools.
Sophomore goalkeeper Hailey Beck, a Washburn Rural product, is tied for second nationally with six shutouts posted in goal. Beck's 0.371 goals against average is good for 14th in Division II, while her 0.852 save percentage places her in a tie for 41st.
Beck currently sits in first place all-time at Washburn in save percentage and goals against average.
Junior Rural grad Belle Kennedy is tied for 13th nationally with three game-winning goals.
For the second week in a row, Kennedy broke a scoreless tie in the second half with her goal in the 58th minute against Missouri Southern. Kennedy split through the Lion defense and received a short pass from Khloe Schuckman, giving Kennedy a quality scoring opportunity.
With her goal against Missouri Southern, Kennedy moved to third in game-winning goals in Washburn history.
Senior forward Ana Muruzabal scored her team-high fourth goal of the season off a cross from Lindsey Maul to give Washburn a 2-0 lead over the Lions in the 71st minute. The assist was Maul's first of her career.
Senior Cloe Quintana finished off the 3-0 victory over Missouri Southern with a goal in the 81st minute. Katie Kamies set up the goal with a cross from the left side, giving the senior her first assist in a Washburn uniform.
Against Pittsburg State, Schuckman scored her third goal of 2024 in the 28th minute. Schuckman found the ball in the six-yard box following a corner, and after her initial attempt was saved by the goalkeeper, Schuckman followed her shot and put the rebound into the net to give Washburn an early lead.
Senior Viviana Soto-Herrera scored her first goal of the season in the 57th minute, launching a shot from just inside the box to the top of the goal. Schuckman assisted on the play, giving her the team lead with three assists on the season.
Jadyn Allen added her second goal of the season on a header off of a corner kick from Aubrey Tanksley in the 70th minute. Both of Allen's goals this season have come from headers.
Northeastern State is 8-3-0 this season with a 2-3-0 mark in MIAA play.
The RiverHawks are coming off a 2-0 road defeat to MIAA leader Missouri Western last Friday.
Senior Whitney Gentry leads NSU with five goals scored, while also adding one assist for 11 total points.
Freshman defender Hannah Anderson leads the RiverHawks with three assists.
Rogers State is 1-8-2 this season with a 0-3-2 record in conference play. The Hillcats dropped a 2-0 contest at Northwest Missouri on Sunday.
Redshirt freshman Taylor Colmo leads the Hillcats with two goals this season, while redshirt sophomore Amber Arnold has a team-high two assists.
The Ichabods will remain on the road for two more games next weekend. Washburn will travel to Central Missouri on Oct. 25 and Fort Hays State on Oct. 27.
The next Ichabod home game will be on Friday, Nov. 1, against Northwest Missouri State.
