By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After graduating one of the top senior classes in Washburn Rural soccer history from a Class 6A state championship team, it shouldn't come as a big surprise that the Junior Blues have suffered through some growing pains in the early going this fall.
Senior Brodye Kocher-Munoz (9) had two goals and an assist in Wednesday's 8-0 Washburn Rural Centennial League win over Junction City at McElroy Field. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But after opening the 2026 season with a 2-2-1 record, including two losses and a tie over its previous three games, Rural turned in a dominating 8-0 Centennial League win over Junction City in Wednesday's Centennial League opener at McElroy Field, improving to 3-2-1 on the year.
After a slow start Wednesday, senior Brody Kocher-Munoz scored the only goal the Junior Blues would need at the 13:08 mark of the first half, made it a 2-0 game a little over three minutes later and the Rural was off and running.
As the Junior Blues' most experienced returner, Kocher-Munoz said he knows it's up to him to be a leader for this year's team.
"I saw Dylan (Willingham) last year and all those other guys lead us and following in their footsteps is hard, but since I have the most experience, I just have to show the younger guys how it's done and what to do and how to stay positive and keep motivating them,'' Kocher-Munoz said.
Junior Paxton Poe (18) scored a goal and had an assist in Washburn Rural's 8-0 Centennial League win over Junction City. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural added three goals over the final 6:49 of the opening half from juniors Everett Un, Maddox Valdivia and Paxton Poe to take a commanding 5-0 lead.
Senior Myles Didde (5) scored a goal and had an assist in Washburn Rural's 8-0 Centennial League win over Junction City. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Bo Kemper (17) scored Washburn Rural's final goal in Wednesday's 8-0 Centennial League win over Junction City. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Junior Blues got second-half goals from senior Myles Didde and sophomore Bo Kemper and also benefitted from an own goal, ending the game with 29:41 remaining by way of the eight-goal spread rule.
Kocher-Munoz also contributed an assist while the Junior Blues also got assists from Un, Poe, sophomore Beckham Rutherford, sophomore Owen Austin and sophomore Nolan Vaughn.
Juniors Kaden Myers and Miles Doyal combined for the shutout in goal.
Kocher-Munoz is confident that the Junior Blues will continue to get better and better as the season moves on.
"I feel like if we just keep working hard every day we're going to get better, I already know it,'' Kocher-Munoz said. "There's simple mistakes we've just got to fix and if we do that we'll be ready as soon as state comes, so I'm excited for what's upcoming and moving forward.''
Veteran Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel is also hopeful that Wednesday's big win is a sign of things to come.
"For us it's not about the standard of winning every single game, it's more about how we're playing,'' Hensyel said. "The problem with us the last three games as we've lost a couple and tied one is we haven't played to our style and our standard. Winning and losing, we're playing good teams, so if it happens it happens, but we've made so many mistakes on our own with a lot of guys who have been here and know how we want to play, that we've got to get that stuff corrected.
"These guys are capable and what I just told them is I know we can be a really tough team to deal with at the end of the year. Some of them just need the experience and need to make mistakes and learn from them and then we go from there.''
Washburn Rural will be right back in action Thursday, playing a 4 p.m. Centennial League game at Hayden.
WASHBURN RURAL 8, JUNCTION CITY 0
Junction City 0 0 -- 0
Washburn Rural 5 3 -- 8
Washburn Rural -- Goals: Brodye Kocher-Munoz 2, Everett Un, Maddox Valdivia, Paxton Poe, Myles Didde, Bo Kemper, own goal. Assists: Everett Un, Beckham Rutherford, Owen Austin, Nolan Vaughn, Brodye Kocher-Munoz, Paxton Poe. Shutout: Kaden Myers, Miles Doyal.
