By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Due to success in other sports, it took awhile for Washburn Rural's girls soccer team to get its entire team together, which was absolutely fine with Junior Blue coach Brian Hensyel.
Washburn Rural senior Mackinly Rohn puts Rural's second goal in the net after rebounding her penalty kick attempt in Tuesday's 3-0 season-opening win over De Soto. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Senior Mackinly Rohn is congratulated by her Washburn Rural teammates after scoring a goal in Rural's 3-0 win over De Soto. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
And getting a late start to preseason preparations wasn't a problem in Tuesday's season-opener, with Rural posting a 3-0 non-league win over De Soto at McElroy Field.
Washburn Rural senior Addi Broxterman and sophomores Delaney Hill and Ashley Schwarz joined Rural soccer's team on the run after helping the Junior Blues win the Class 6A-5A state wrestling championship while senior Brooklyn DeLeye and sophomore Kate Hinck got a late start after helping Rural finish second in the 6A state basketball tournament.
Senior goalkeeper Hailey Beck also missed preseason due to an injury but all six players turned in quality minutes in Tuesday's win, with Broxterman scoring Rural's first goal of the season while Hill and DeLeye were credited with assists and Beck combined for a shutout in goal.
"The spring sports season is always unique because unlike the fall it overlaps with the successes of the other seasons,'' Hensyel said. "And spring break was last week and some people are here and some aren't, so the first three weeks you're always trying to accomplish as much as you can but you know you're probably not going to be completely ready to play.
"Even though we have a lot to work on getting them all yesterday for the first time, for each of them to come out tonight and beat a good De Soto team was really a positive. It's always kind of a mess at the beginning but we're a work in progress.''
And Hensyel said Washburn Rural's success in other sports eventually pays dividends for his team.
"We have had a lot of success in girls soccer here with taking phenomenal athletes from other sports, and we always want winners on the team,'' Hensyel said. "So having winners -- Brooklyn DeLeye, Addi Broxterman, Kate Hinck from other sports -- they experience competition and winning in a different format and it does nothing but help us.
"We welcome them with open arms and some of these girls are going to college for another sport and they don't have to play this last season but they're out here and having a good time.''
Broxterman scored the only goal Washburn Rural would need at the 24:31 mark of the opening half off an assist from Hill to give the Junior Blues a 1-0 halftime advantage.
Washburn Rural sophomore Destiny Higgs scored a goal in Tuesday's 3-0 season-opening win over De Soto. [Photo by Trevor Falcon/Special to TSN]
Senior Mackinly Rohn put Washburn Rural up 2-0 wih 26:09 remaining when she put her rebound off a penalty kick attempt in the net and sophomore Destiny Higgs scored with 15:35 left off DeLeye's assist.
Beck and junior Mackenzie Flood combined for the Rural shutout in goal.
Washburn Rural, second in 6A last season, will be back at home Friday to host Kapaun Mt. Carmel.
WASHBURN RURAL 3, DE SOTO 0
De Soto (0-1) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn Rural (1-0) 1 2 -- 3
Washburn Rural -- Goals: Broxterman, Rohn, Higgs. Assists: Hill, DeLeye. Shutout: Beck, Flood.
