By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 4-ranked Washburn University women's soccer led 1-0 for just over 82 of 90 minutes in Saturday's non-conference matchup with No. 9 Missouri-St. Louis, but the Tritons got a goal with 4:16 remaining to pull even and held on for the 1-1 deadlock at Yager Stadium.
Sophomore midfielder Bricelyn Betts (2) celebrates with her Washburn teammates after scoring the Ichabods' goal in Saturday's 1-1 tie with Missouri-St. Louis. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I thought it was a good game,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "There were a lot of positives and then some moments we need to grow into, so I think you take the good and the bad.
"For me, I just think we were a little off of our identity and who we are. And you give teams chances late in the game and stop finding your identity you're going to risk that moment and we did. So hopefully it's a learning moment going forward.''
Sophomore midfielder Bricelyn Betts (Raymore, Mo.) scored Washburn's goal just 3:39 into Saturday's contest off a goal from senior Mackinly Rohn and the Ichabods made that lead hold up until the closing minutes when Ashtyn Fry found the back of the net.
The 1-1 deadlock left Washburn at 1-0-1 on the season while Missouri-St. Louis improved to 0-1-1.
Sophomore Leah Henke nearly gave Washburn the lead in the final minute, but UMSL goalkeeper Allysa Wolf was there for the save.
Washburn outshot UMSL 18-13, including 10-7 on goal.
Ichabod sophomore goalkeeper Lili Everley, freshman defender Chloe Kolm and senior defender Rilyn Snyder all played 90 minutes in the match.
Washburn is now 2-3-1 all time against UMSL and Saturday's tie came after the Ichabods dropped a 3-0 decision to the Tritons in the 2025 matchup between the two schools.
"They're a good team,'' Phillips said of the Tritons. "Both teams this weekend were really good teams, intentionally scheduled so that we can learn and grow and apply things once we hit conference.
"We needed this moment, as unfortunate as it is. I think we just got too complacent in the game in more of the execution than the work rate. We worked really hard, but we've got to execute a little better at times.''
Washburn, which opened its season with a 4-0 win over No. 19 Maryvillle on Thursday, will host Drury in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Yager Stadium.
WASHBURN 1, MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS 1
Missouri-St. Louis (0-1-1) 0 1 -- 1
Washburn (1-0-0) 1 0 -- 1
Missouri-St. Louis -- Goal: Ashtyn Fry. Assist: Josie Maddox.
Washburn -- Goal: Bricelyn Betts. Assist: Mackinly Rohn.
