By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's soccer match against Fort Hays State wasn't as much about revenge as it was about advancing in the MIAA Tournament.
The No.1-seeded Ichabods accomplished both things Sunday at Yager Stadium, avenging an earlier 2-1 loss at Hays while advancing to the MIAA semifinals with a 2-1 quarterfinal victory.
Washburn senior star Khloe Shuckman (middle) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in Sunday's 2-1 MIAA Tournament quarterfinal win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn celebrates Khloe Schuckman's goal in Sunday's 2-1 MIAA Tournament quarterfinal win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The tournament now moves to Wichita's Stryker Sports Complex where the Ichabods will face Central Oklahoma in a Thursday semifinal contest.
Fort Hays State handed the MIAA regular-season champion Ichabods their lone conference loss on Oct. 27, but Washburn coach Davy Phillips was confident his No. 16-ranked Ichabods could turn the tables in Sunday's rematch.
"To be fair to my team, when we played them (the first time) they didn't play a Friday night game and we played (Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo.) and we spent a lot of energy in that game,'' Phillips said. "I like who we are when all things are even against them.
"I told the girls, just play to our identity, what our DNA is. We have a makeup that we're looking to accomplish certain things every single day, whether it's training or game, and I thought they did a really good job of staying true and playing with our identity.''
Washburn, now 14-3-2, never trailed against the Tigers (7-8-4), getting a first-half goal from Sam Searcey at the 27:48 mark and a second-half goal from Khloe Shuckman at the 68:22 mark to take a 2-0 lead before Fort Hays State scored its lone goal with just over six minutes remaining.
Washburn had several opportunities to score in the early stages of the contest, taking five shots and earning five corner kicks in the first 27 minutes of the match and the Ichabods finally broke through with the opening goal when Lindsey Maul's cross found the right foot of Searcey deep in the box for the freshman's first collegiate goal.
Washburn continued the offensive push, taking three more shots on target but were unable to convert, with the contest remaining 1-0 at halftime.
The Ichabods took nine shots in the first half, while holding the visiting Tigers to only one attempt.
The second half began much like the first, with Washburn using corner kicks and shot attempts to pressure the Tiger defense.
Despite spending much of the half on defense, Fort Hays State nearly equalized the score in the 60th minute, when Taylor Hill's shot attempt was saved by a leaping Alli Harrington to preserve the Ichabod lead.
The Ichabods added an insurance goal in the 69th minute, when senior Khloe Schuckman scored from close range off a deflected cross from Lakin Rold to put Washburn up 2-0.
The goal was the ninth of the season for Schuckman, an All-MIAA three-time first-team selection.
Despite facing a two-goal deficit, the Tigers showed signs of life when they raced downfield where a cross deflected off an Ichabod defender straight to Allison Worley, who scored to bring the Tigers within one goal.
The comeback attempt would fall short, with Washburn earning the victory and a trip to Wichita.
"Like I told the team, I thought the last 10 minutes we can make some better decisions to avoid a tight ending there, but at the end of the day it's can you take those learning lessons and survive and go on to the next one and then take some lessons and then go and survivein the next one,'' Phillips said.
"It's just learning how to find ways to win and taking lessons along the way and then trying to apply them to the next one.''
Washburn took 18 shots in the contest, with eight coming on goal. Schuckman led the Ichabods with four shots, while Aubrey Tanksley chipped in with three attempts. Washburn took 15 corner kicks in the contest.
Fort Hays State took four shots in the match, coming from four different players. Mackenzie Caldwell made six saves in net for the Tigers.
WASHBURN 2, FORT HAYS STATE 1
Fort Hays State (7-8-4) 0 1 -- 1
Washburn (14-3-2) 1 1 -- 2
Fort Hays State -- Goal: Allison Worley.
Washburn -- Goals: Sam Searcey, Khloe Schuckman. Assists: Lindsey Maul, Lakin Rold.
