By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
With each and every game, Brian Hensyel's Washburn Rural's girls soccer team seems to pick up more and more confidence.
Washburn Rural sophomore Maile Eldridge (11), who had two goals and an assist, celebrates a goal with senior teammate Kate Hinck, who had a goal and an assist, in Wednesday's 8-1 win over Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
And that could spell bad news for future Junior Blue opponents.
Washburn Rural rolled to an 8-1 Centennial League win over Manhattan Wednesday night at McElroy Field, improving to 6-1-0 overall and 2-0 in the league with its fourth straight win.
The Junior Blues have now outscored their opponents 29-3, with their lone loss coming against undefeated Blue Valley North, 1-0.
"We've had a great start to the season,'' Hensyel said. "We've played a tough schedule and I think playing some of those teams last week in the tournament in Kansas City and winning some games against good teams has just given this team a lot of confidence.''
Washburn Rural senior Zahra Friess had a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 8-1 win over Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural needed just 11 minutes, 5 seconds to take the lead against the Indians with a goal from senior Kate Hinck and the Junior Blues added goals from senior Zahra Friess and sophomore Maile Eldridge to take a commanding 3-0 advantage with 8:12 left in the opening half.
"What we talked about tonight was getting off to a fast start and really try to put them on their heels a little bit and see if we could get an early lead because we play great with a lead because people just get more and more aggressive,'' Hensyel said.
Manhattan (2-3-0, 1-1) got on the scoreboard with 6:20 left in the half but sophomore Emery Hall answered for Rural 2:46 later to give the Junior Blues a 4-1 halftime edge.
Washburn Rural senior Destiny Higgs had a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 8-1 win over Manhattan. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural tacked on four more goals in the second half, with Eldridge scoring a second goal while senior Destiny Higgs, sophomore Khloe Hillmer and junior Brecken Murphy also scored for the Junior Blues.
Rural got assists from junior Dayne Shriver, Hinck, Higgs, Friess, Eldridge and Hillmer.
Washburn Rural will return to action next Wednesday against Centennial League foe Topeka High at Hummer Sports Park.
WASHBURN RURAL 8, MANHATTAN 1
Manhattan (2-3-0, 1-1-0) 1 0 -- 1
Washburn Rural (6-1-0, 2-0-0) 4 4 -- 8
Manhattan -- Goal: Adalynn Sawyer.
Washburn Rural -- Goals: Maile Eldridge 2, Kate Hinck, Zahra Friess, Emery Hall, Destiny Higgs, Khloe Hillmer, Brecken Murphy. Assists: Dayne Shriver, Kate Hinck, Destiny Higgs, Zahra Friess, Maile Eldridge, Khloe Hillmer.
