By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The first goal of senior Shaye Taylor's collegiate career was just enough for Washburn University soccer to post its second straight shutout victory with a 1-0 non-conference win over Ouachita Baptist Sunday at Yager Stadium.
Taylor, a 5-foot-7 defender, scored the game's lone goal with just 3:55 left in the opening half, ripping home a free kick that was estimated to be at least 35 yards out.
Washburn defender Shaye Taylor receives a hug from teammate Rilyn Snyder (25) after scoring the lone goal in Sunday's 1-0 win over Ouachita Baptist. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn's soccer team mobs senior defender Shaye Taylor after she scored the lone goal in Sunday's 1-0 win over Ouachita Baptist. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"Obviously I took a lot of free kicks today and on that one my goal was to shoot it, my goal was to score,'' said Taylor, who began her career at Minot State before transferring to Washburn last season. "I thought the goalie had it and then it slipped through her fingers, so honestly I was a little surprised.
"It would have been a great save on her part, but I was really excited it went in.''
Washburn coach Davy Phillips said the Ichabods' goal on free kicks is always to give themselves a chance to score.
"The most important thing is to put the ball in dangerous areas,'' Phillips said. "And then if you have bodies crashing in dangerous areas own goals happen, goalkeeper mistakes, goals, all of those things.
"So it's about putting the ball in dangerous areas and then hopefully getting dangerous runs to complement the service.''
Phillips, whose Ichabods improved to 3-2-1 and are above .500 for the first time this season, said the team still needs to continue showing improvement, but he was obviously happy to get Sunday's win and a weekend sweep.
"I wasn't overly impressed with our performance today,'' he said. "For me it's about stringing performances together versus results and we I thought missed a chance to string performances together.
"But I told the team I'm proud of them -- two wins, two shutouts -- and those are things we can take a lot of pride in and gain some confidence in and grow it as we get into conference now. Those are important things for us to accomplish this weekend, but I thought ultimately we missed the final goal a little bit.''
Taylor said the Ichabods know they have to continue to keep moving forward.
"There's definitely growth coming and I think today was a big stepping stone for us,'' Taylor said. "We just have to continue to grow and continue to perform on our second game of the weekend.
"I think it was an intense game. We know that Sunday games are a little bit harder mentally, so we had to come out strong. There were some uneasy moments, but it got better and we obviously got the result we wanted after pushing through a hard battle.''
Washburn limited the Tigers to just three shots and two shots on goal while Ichabod freshman goalkeeper Lilli Epperley recorded two saves.
Washburn had 14 shots in the game with six on goal.
The Ichabods will be on the road next weekend for MIAA games against Central Oklahoma and Newman.
WASHBURN 1, OUACHITA BAPTIST 0
Ouachita Baptist (1-4-1) 0 0 -- 0
Washburn (3-2-1) 1 0 -- 1
Washburn -- Goal: Shaye Taylor. Shutout: Lilli Everley.
