By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 4 nationally-ranked Washburn University soccer faces a pair of tough home tests right off the bat to open the 2026 season.
The Ichabods will open their season against No. 19 Maryville at 6 p.m. on Thursday in Yager Stadium followed by a 1 p.m. Saturday contest in Yager against No. 9 Missouri-St. Louis.
No. 4 Washburn soccer will host a pair of nationally-ranked foes on Thursday and Saturday to open its 2026 season. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Ichabod coach Davy Phillips said his team knows that the task ahead is a tough one, but that it's time to get things started.
"We're more than ready for that,'' Phillips said. "I think the scrimmages we had were good prep work, but I think the level of competition is going to be intensified a little bit once these games start.
"Both opponents are really good, too. They're both top-20 in the country and we've opened against this pair of opponents the last two years and I think we're 0-3-1 in those opening two weekends. So for us it gives us a barometer, but also shows what we really need to hone in on as we approach conference.''
Washburn posted a 14-4-6 record last season and advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals whille Maryville went 13-3-6 and advanced to the third round of the national tournament and Missouri-St. Louis went 15-5-2 and fell 3-2 to Washburn in the national quarterfinals.
"I'm super excited about the group that we've got,'' said sophomore goalkeeper Lili Everley, who received All-MIAA honorable mention as a freshman after starting 22 of 24 matches last season. "I feel like we did lose some big pieces, but that our girls this year can step up into those roles. We have a lot of people who are very ready to go and compete.
"We just love being around each other and we love coming in and training every day and I think that will translate on the field and how we move, how we defend and all those things. I'm excited to see how we can build on last year and just maximize our potential as a group.''
The Ichabods, who were picked first with seven first place votes in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, return 19 players from last year's Final Four team while adding one transfer and seven freshmen.
Senior defender Lindsey Maul returns for Washburn after starting in all 22 of her appearances last season. Maul was named All-MIAA first team, USC Central Region first team and D2CCA Central Region second team in 2025.
Ichabod sophomore Leah Henke started in 21 of 23 games last fall while leading the team in goals with 12 and points with 26. Henke's 12 goals in 2025 ranked fourth in program history.
Henke was named to the All-MIAA first team, was named the MIAA freshman of the year, USC Central Region first team and D2CCA Central Region second team in 2025.
Defender Rilyn Snyder is back at Washburn for her senior season after starting in all 24 games last season and leading the team in minutes with 2,078. Snyder scored her first career goal last season and was named to the All-MIAA second team.
Washburn Rural product Kate Hinck started all 24 games as a freshman, recording 1,421 minutes and ranking second on the team with seven goals. Hinck was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team and received All-MIAA honorable mention.
Former Washburn Rural standout Mackinly Rohn, Sam Searcey and Grace Peterson all received All-MIAA third-team recognition last season.
Washburn adds seven freshmen this season -- four Nebraska natives and three Kansans -- including Hayden grad Reese Huscher and Washburn Rural product Dayne Shriver, as well as Baker transfer Avery Young, also a Kansas native.
Lili Everley returns in goal for Washburn soccer after starting 22 of 24 matches as a freshman and earning All-MIAA honorable mention. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Everley, a native of Kansas City, Mo., said she feels that the experience she gained a year ago will help her going into the current season.
"I think that getting the opportunity to have that experience coming in as a freshman really showed me what it means to play college soccer and the pace of college soccer and the demands early on in my career,'' she said. "So I feel a lot more confident and that I can help lead some of our younger girls coming in who are in the same boat that I kind of was.''
Washburn will face Drury in a non-conference game next Wednesday in Yager Stadium.
The Ichabods will open MIAA play on Sept. 26 at Central Oklahoma.
