By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 4-ranked Washburn University women's soccer opened its 2026 season in impressive fashion Thursday night in Yager Stadium, rolling to a 4-0 shutout over No. 19 ranked Maryville.
Washburn Rural product Mackinly Rohn scored a pair of goals Tuesday night as No. 4-ranked Washburn soccer rolled to a 4-0 season-opening win over No. 19 Maryville. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Mackinly Rohn and sophomore Leah Henke scored two goals apiece for the Ichabods, a NCAA semifinalist last fall, while Henke and sophomore Bricelyn Betts picked up assists and sophomore Lili Everley and freshman Ize Tidball combined for the shutout in goal.
"I told the girls I thought we were better than (Maryville) on the ball,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "It was just doing the work to earn those really good moments where we can let special players go and be special.''
"I thought it was a really comprehensive effort from the team tonight. Almost all phases of the game were good. We could be a little more disciplined in some of the fouls we gave up and we've got to get better at some positional things, but for first game, I'll take it.''
Rohn, a former Washburn Rural standout, scored the only goal the Ichabods would need just two minutes into the contest when she converted a penalty kick after Maryville was whistled for a handball in the box.
"It gave us some momentum, so that's good,'' Rohn said. "I think we were like, 'Don't let down now, keep going strong and keep them on their heels.'
"We didn't want to let down at all because we knew they would want to come back strong as well.''
The score remained 1-0 through the remainder of the opening half as Washburn was unable to convert numerous scoring opportunities, but the Ichabods pulled away with three second-half goals to take the 4-0 win.
Henke's night didn't get off to a great start when she airmailed a penalty kick attempt over the goal in the 10th minute, but the All-MIAA first-team pick and conference freshman of the year in 2025 scored an unassisted goal with 37:44 remaining in the second half and added a second goal just a little over five minutes later off an assist from Betts before assisting on Rohn's second goal of the game with 28:05 left to play.
"I don't want to talk abut the PK,'' Henke said with a big smile. "I usually don't take PKs, but (the team) was like, 'Leah take it, Leah take it,' and I was going to go right and then I just went over, but it's OK.
"I felt like we really competed well as a team and we were really competing within our identity. It was really fun tonight. I feel like every single time we're on the field together we're growing closer together and developing our game model.''
Washburn outshot Maryville 14-11 on the night, including an 8-7 edge in shots on goal while Tidball recorded a game-high six saves in 17 minutes of action off the bench.
"We were super excited for this weekend and we wanted to get a good start on the year,'' Rohn said. "I think this is a good start, but we're wanting to grow some more.''
Washburn will face No. 9 ranked Missouri-St. Louis at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Yager Stadium.
UMSL lost its season-opener to MIAA foe Pittsburg State 5-0 on Thursday.
WASHBURN 4, MARYVILLE 0
Maryville (0-1) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn (1-0) 1 3 -- 4
Washburn -- Goals: Rohn 2, Henke 2. Assists: Betts, Henke. Shutout: Everley, Tidball.
