By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer will face MIAA foe Missouri Western at 10 a.m. Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Mankato, Minn.
Washburn soccer will open its NCAA Tournament bid at 10 a.m. Friday in Mankato, Minn. against Missouri Western. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The 11-3-5 Ichabods are the No. 4 seed in the Central Region while 12-2-7 Missouri Western is the No. 5 seed.
"I'm very proud of this year's team and the journey that we have been on to earn the chance to compete on the national stage tomorrow,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "I'm excited for the ladies to execute our brand of soccer and continue to grow within our game model as we compete for a national championship.
"Missouri Western is a good team and well coached and it should be a really high-level college soccer game.''
Washburn enters the match after failing to win their past two matches, both against rival Emporia State, with a scoreless draw on Senior Day and a 3-2 loss in the first round of the MIAA Tournament.
Washburn and Missouri Western met earlier this year in St. Joseph, Mo., where the match ended in a 0-0 draw.
Washburn's defense has been its focal point, allowing just three goals during the MIAA regular season and scoring 20 during that span. The Ichabods allowed only 60 shots on goal all season, while they put 125 shots on goal.
Defenders Rilyn Snyder and Shaye Taylor are one-two in minutes played this season while senior Belle Kennedy anchors the Ichabods from the heart of the midfield.
The Washburn Rural alum earned MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and All-MIAA first-team honors.
Washburn is led in goals and points by freshman Leah Henke, who has nine goals on the year and has added an assist.
Sophomore Sam Searcey has five goals and four assists while freshman Kate Hinck has also found the back of the net five times this year and junior Mackinly Rohn has three goals and an assist. Hinck and Rohn are both former Washburn Rural stars.
The Griffons are coming off an MIAA Tournament title, which booked their place in the NCAA Tournament.
Washburn leads the all-time series with Western, 16-12-1. The Ichabods have won five of the last eight matches with the Griffons.
The Washburn-Missouri Western winner will advance to a 1 p.m. match on Sunday to face the winner between No. 1 seed Minnesota State-Mankato and No. 8 seed Harding.
