By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural slowed the roll of the red-hot Shawnee Heights girls soccer team Monday, putting an end to the T-Birds’ five game win streak, winning 4-0 at the Junior Blues’ McElroy Field.
Washburn Rural senior Destiny Higgs (24) scored a pair of goals in Monday's 4-0 soccer win over Shawnee Heights. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Kate Hinck (9) had a pair of second-half goals in Monday's 4-0 soccer win over Shawnee Heights. [File photo/TSN]
Seniors Destiny Higgs and Kate Hinck netted two goals apiece to lead the Junior Blues to their eighth victory of the season while senior goalkeepers Madison Lemke and Hailey Davin combined for the shutout.
The T-Birds had overcome a slow start to the season to improve to 5-3-1 prior to Monday’s meeting with Washburn Rural. But they fell behind early and were unable to mount an offensive threat in response.
The friendly rivalry with the T-Birds, who left the Centennial League in 2019, gives the Junior Blues a chance to maintain their claim to city bragging rights.
“We’re happy that even though some of these teams are no longer in our league, we still play them,” Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. “These kids play club together and they all want to play against each other. We always have it as a goal to be the best in the city.”
“Shawnee Heights has always been a tough team to beat,” added Higgs. “We all know each other. It’s kind of nice to be able to brag about when we get with them and talk about it.”
Higgs put the Junior Blues up early, then added a second score midway through the first period, both coming against a strong wind from the south.
Once the T-Birds had to play into the wind in the second half, they could muster little offense. Meanwhile, Washburn Rural's Hinck tallied two insurance goals in the second half.
The Junior Blues are alternating battles with local and Centennial League foes with matches with the most powerful teams in the Kansas City area. It is their strategy to prepare for the postseason.
“We’ve had great moments this season,” Hensyel said. “We’ve had some big wins early in the year: Blue Valley Southwest, Blue Valley, Manhattan. We’ve lost a couple to good teams, and we’ve had to play through some injuries so far this season. In a couple of those games, we were down a player or two, and it’s good to see how the girls step up.”
Despite having just two losses on their ledger, Higgs believes Washburn Rural has another gear it can reach.
“We were kind of in a slump,” Higgs said. “But I think the season is still going really well. We have a couple of people out with injuries – a couple of key players – but when we get them back, we’re going to get rolling again.
“We’ve got some Kansas City teams coming up that are going to be tough, but I think we got it.”
The Junior Blues travel to face defending Class 6A champion Blue Valley West on Thursday, then play host to currently undefeated 5A powerhouse St. James on Saturday.
“We’re trying to be the best in three weeks when the playoffs start, so it’s all part of the process,” Hensyel said.
WASHBURN RURAL 4, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 0
Shawnee Heights (5-4-1) 0 0 — 0
Washburn Rural (8-2-0) 2 2 — 4
Seaman — Goals: Higgs 2, Hinck 2. Assists: Shriver, Hinck, Higgs, Hall. Shutout: Lemke, Davin.
