By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's soccer coach Davy Phillips reached a career milestone on Sunday in Yager Stadium, earning his 100th victory as the Ichabods' coach in a 2-0 MIAA win over Northwest Missouri State.
Washburn's players and assistant coaches react to the announcement that Ichabod coach Davy Phillips reached the 100-win milestone at WU with Sunday's 2-0 win over Northwest Missouri State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But when the accomplishment was announced over the public address system at game's end, Phillips was surprised and even seemed a little embarrassed to discuss the accomplishment.
"I had no idea,'' Phillips said. "My wife (Brianne) does a pretty good job tracking that. She has spreadsheets for everything we do, including my coaching, but I have no idea about that stuff and that was brand new for me.
"We've had really good players and now I've been here for awhile (10th season), so I think the standards within the program have been established now. It's player led truly. They do an incredible job really living to those standards of success every single day, so it's easier for me to just go in and make these little corrections. They're young and they're learning, but as long as the effort is there and the honesty in the effort is there we're going to be in a good place, hopefully.''
No. 25 Washburn scored both of its goals in the second half en route to improving to 7-1-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference while Northwest Missouri State fell to 1-7-1, 1-3.
Despite taking eight shots in the first 45 minutes, Washburn was unable to record a goal while the Ichabods didn't allow a single shot attempt from the Bearcats.
Sophomore Leah Henke scored her sixth goal of the season in Sunday's 2-0 Washburn win over Northwest Missouri State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Washburn wasted no time breaking the scoreless deadlock at the start of the second half, with sophomore star forward Leah Henke scoring her team-leading sixth goal of the season off an assist from freshman Avery McCorry in the 47th minute.
Sophomore Bricelyn Betts (2) scored for the second straight game in Washburn's 2-0 MIAA win over Northwest Missouri State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Bricelyn Betts added an insurance goal off an assist from McCorry in the 66th minute and the Ichabods went on to close out their second straight shutout and sixth on the season as WU outshot the Bearcats 19-3, including 5-1 shots on goal.
Betts scored a goal in her second straight game and has now scored four goals on the season after scoring one goal her entire freshman season.
"That's the first time I've done that here,'' Betts said of the back-to-back goals. "It's all about the team. The team finds me and I'm able to just finish it in.
"I couldn't do without the team. Every day we're getting better, practice is getting better, and as a team we're just growing and continuing to add on to the pieces, and it's awesome.''
Washburn has won three straight matches against Northwest Missouri State, dating back to Nov. 1, 2024.
Washburn hosts Fort Hays State on Friday at 6 p.m. and Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Yager Stadium.
WASHBURN 2, NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE 0
NW Missouri (1-7-1, 1-3) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn (7-1-1, 3-1) 0 2 -- 2
Washburn -- Goals: Leah Henke, Bricelyn Betts. Assists: Avery McCorry 2. Shutout: Lili Everley.
