By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's soccer team came out of the gate with a bang against Wichita Northwest Thursday, scoring a goal just 2:21 into the game.
But that would be the highlight of the day for the Junior Blues, who were held scoreless the rest of the game in a 1-1 non-league tie with the Grizzlies in steady to heavy rain most of the match at McElroy Field.
.Washburn Rural sophomore Hayden McWilliams (left) battles Wichita Northwest junior Payton Benoit in Thursday's 1-1 tie at McElroy Field. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Freshman Kate Hinck scored for the Junior Blues at the 37:39 mark of the opening half off an assist from senior Reagan Allen and Rural had a flurry of scoring opportunities a few minutes later, but Northwest senior goalkeeper Morgan Dunn came up with several huge saves to keep Rural out of the goal.
The Grizzlies tied the game on a shot from sophomore Brooklyn Bohannon midway through the half and the score remained 1-1 through the remainder of regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods.
"We got an early goal, which we always want to do, and had a chance to maybe seize momentum,'' Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "But their goalkeeper made three or four really good saves to keep it 1-0 and they were able to put one in and tie it and then you've got to give them credit, they defended very well and made it tough to really get any good chances in the second half and overtime.''
Washburn Rural is now 11-2-1 on the season and still in line for the top Class 6A West seed for postseason, but Hensyel admitted that Thursday's tie was somewhat disappointing, particularly after Rural's quick start.
"We're definitely disappointed,'' Hensyel said. "The weather this spring has been crazy and there's been a lot of things that have made it tough to get a rhythm practicing,'' Hensyel said. "We've had a lot of games without much time to practice, so as I told the girls at halftime and I'm going to tell them here after the game, we're still making mistakes that you make at the beginning of the season.
"That's not necessarily their fault, that's as much on me. We've got to find a way to just be better because we've got all the talent but today we weren't able to put it together. We've got some little things to work on and hopefully we'll be good enough in a few weeks to be playing really well again.''
Washburn Rural will try to wrap up a Centennial League championship next week, closing out the regular season with home games against Topeka High on Monday and Hayden on Thursday.
WASHBURN RURAL 1, WICHITA NORTHWEST 1
Wichita Northwest 1 0 0 0 -- 1
Washburn Rural 1 0 0 0 -- 1
Wichita Northwest -- Goal: Bohannon.
Washburn Rural -- Goal: Hinck. Assist: Allen.
