By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
By its extremely lofty standards, Washburn Rural's girls soccer team got off to somewhat of a slow start Tuesday night against Topeka High.
But after getting a little talking to from coach Brian Hensyel, and some mass substitutions midway through the opening half, the Junior Blues turned on the after-burners, wrapping up the Centennial League championship with a 10-0 Senior Night win over Topeka High at McElroy Field.
Washburn Rural junior Kate Hinck (9) scored a three-goal hat trick in Tuesday's 10-0 Centennial League victory over Topeka High at McElroy field. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"This is a very, very talented team that we have,'' Hensyel said. "We are rolling right now. We haven't given up a goal since the end of March, nine straight wins. We've played really well and beat some good teams. But this team is all about just that consistent effort because they have the ability, they have the talent, they listen to coaching, so whatever we're trying to do their energy has to match whoever our opponent is.
"And if we're the harder working team and we're doing the things we want to do, it's going to be hard for someone to beat us because we've got a really good group. Early I just thought the energy was a little lax and that's been the case for us a few times this year, but when we get going and the girls kind of sense that, 'OK, we've got it rolling a little bit here,' then they're fun to watch.''
Washburn Rural, 12-2-0 overall, 5-0 in the league, scored the only goal it would need just 4:37 into the match on a shot from junior midfielder Destiny Higgs off an assist from senior Hayley Legg.
But the Junior Blues went nearly 20 minutes without another score before sophomore midfielder Brecken Murphy found the back of the net to put Rural up 2-0 at the 15:40 mark of the opening half.
Junior forward Kate Hinck followed with back-to-back goals to give Washburn Rural a 4-0 halftime advantage and the Junior Blues cruised the rest of the way, netting six second-half goals and ending the game by way of the 10-goal spread with just 25 seconds remaining on a goal from junior Avery Hemsley.
Washburn Rural junior Delaney Hill (2) scored a pair of goals in Tuesday's 10-0 Centennial League win over Topeka High at McElroy Field. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High senior Avery Zimmerman (2) and Washburn Rural's Destiny Higgs (24) chase after a loose ball in Rural's 10-0 win over the Trojans Tuesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hinck recorded a three-goal hat trick on the night while junior Delaney Hill had two second-half goals and the Junior Blues also got goals from sophomore Allie Schroeder and sophomore Peyton Merrick.
Legg was credited with three assists and Schroeder two assists while Higgs, senior Brooklyn Tuffley and freshman Erika Bovell also picked up assists.
Senior Mackenzie Flood and junior Madison Lemke combined for the shutout in goal.
After completing Centennial League play on Tuesday, Washburn Rural will travel to Seaman for a non-league game on Thursday before wrapping up the regular season with a home game on Friday against perennial Class 6A power Blue Valley West.
"We always want to be league champs and we want homefield advantage (for the playoffs) and we need to win one more game this week to do that for sure, but I'm really proud of the girls,'' Hensyel said. "We have a really tough schedule and we have a lot of road games and we're 12-2.''
WASHBURN RURAL 10, WICHITA NORTHWEST 0
Topeka High (9-5-0) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn Rural (12-2-0) 4 6 -- 10
Washburn Rural -- Goals: Kate Hinck 3, Delaney Hill 2, Destiny Higgs, Brecken Murphy, Allie Schroeder, Peyton Merrick, Avery Hemsley. Assists: Hayley Legg 3, Allie Schroeder 2, Destiny Higgs, Erika Bovell, Brooklyn Tuffley. Shutout: Mackenzie Flood, Madison Lemke.
