By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University soccer team will open MIAA play on the road this weekend, facing Central Oklahoma on Friday at 7 p.m. and Newman on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Washburn Rural product Kate Hinck scored her first collegiate goal in Washburn's 2-0 win over Harding last Friday. [File photo/TSN]"Start of conference play always brings an elevated level of excitement and intensity,'' Ichabod coach Davy Phillips said. "I'm looking forward to watching our team apply the lessons that our difficult non-conference schedule provided."
"UCO is always a quality MIAA opponent that is well coached and, much like us, coming off a very difficult non-conference schedule. It will be another fantastic game to kick off MIAA play this year."
Washburn is coming off back-to-back wins over the weekend, with a 2-0 win over Harding last Friday and a 1-0 win Sunday over Ouachita Baptist.
Over the weekend, the Ichabods had two players who scored their first collegiate goals at totally different points in their careers.
First, on Friday night, freshman Kate Hinck scored her first goal as an Ichabod in her hometown, and then on Sunday, senior Shaye Taylor scored the game-winning goal on a long free kick.
Washburn averages 12 shots a game with 5.3 shots on goal per game.
The Ichabods only allow seven shots a game. Washburn has taken 29 corners in the first six games of the season, while their opponents have only taken 16.
Washburn has fouled 23 more times than their opponents this year, 73-50.
Central Oklahoma is 2-2-2 to start the season heading into MIAA play. Central Oklahoma started the first four games 0-2-2, with one of their ties against then No. 3 nationally ranked Minnesota State in the opening game of the season.
UCO has won its last two games, with wins over Southern Nazarene & Southwestern Oklahoma State.
UCO leads the all-time series 13-3-3. The teams met three times last season, with UCO taking the season series 1-0-2.
