By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer is Elite Eight bound after a 2-1 win over Emporia State in Friday's Central Region championship to give the Ichabods their first-ever regional title.
Washburn's Khloe Schuckman scored both goals in the Ichabods' 2-1 win over Emporia State Friday in the Central Regional final. [Photo courtesy of Washbutn Athletics]
The Ichabods will take on Grand Valley State at 2 p.m. (Topeka time) on Sunday in the national quarterfinals in Ashland, Ohio.
For a second straight game WU junior Khloe Schuckman scored multiple goals and this time her two goals were all that were required for Washburn (19-3-1) to win in regulation for the first time in the NCAA Tournament.
The first goal of the contest came in the 37th minute, with Schuckman taking the ball from the middle of the field and sending it off her left foot into the back left corner of the net to take a 1-0 advantage that would hold through the first half.
The Ichabods were outshot 5-3 in the first half but each side managed one shot on goal, with a stop by Raegan Wells being the difference in the score the first 45 minutes.
Emporia State (14-6-4) was able to even the score in the 65th minute on a goal by Mackenzie Dimarco. The shot was one of only two for the Hornets in the second half, as Washburn was able to take control offensively with an 11-2 shot advantage in the final half.
The pressure put on by the Ichabods paid off in the 82nd minute as they earned a penalty kick after Schuckman was fouled inside the box. Schuckman stood up to take the kick and drilled it from straight on into the back of the net.
Washburn's defense finished off the final eight minutes of the match to take the victory.
Wells made two saves while playing all 90 minutes in goal for the Ichabods.
Jordan Tenpas, Josie Boyle and Taylor Bockover all played the entire match on defense for the Ichabods while Schuckman was the lone attacker to play all 90 minutes for the top seed.
Mackenzie Goen made two saves for Emporia State in goal while playing all 90 minutes.
The Ichabods evened the season series with Emporia State at 2-2.
