By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University women's soccer team returns to Yager Stadium this weekend for its final two home games of the regular season, facing off against Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western in two critical MIAA contests.
The Ichabods sit in a tie for second place in the MIAA standings, six points behind Missouri Western with three games to play.
Washburn soccer will honor its seniors on Sunday before the Ichabods' 1 p.m. game against Missouri Western at Yager Stadium. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn will face Northwest Missouri at 6 p.m. Friday and the Ichabods will honor 11 seniors on Senior Day before its 1 p.m. Sunday match against the Griffons.
Washburn is 10-3-2 on the 2024 season and is ranked 20th in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Women's National poll.
The Ichabods split their two road contests last weekend, defeating Central Missouri 1-0 last Friday before falling to Fort Hays State, 2-1, on Sunday.
Sophomore WU goalkeeper Hailey Beck is tied for second nationally with 10 shutouts, is fourth with a goals against average of 0.313 and her 0.879 save percentage is good for a tie for 14th.
Junior Belle Kennedy is tied for 29th with three game-winning goals.
Ichabod senior Khloe Schuckman has now scored in her last three games and five of Schuckman's six goals this season came in the month of October.
With her goal against Fort Hays State, Schuckman now has 75 points in her career (31 goals, 13 assists).
Northwest Missouri is 7-3-6 this season with a 5-2-3 mark in the MIAA.
Sophomore Ekaterina Theoharidis leads the Bearcats with eight goals and 20 total points.
Theoharidis and Makenna West share the team lead in assists with four each.
Junior Lily Ellis, the 2022 MIAA Goalkeeper of the Year, has a 1.07 goals against average this season.
Washburn is 15-10-5 all-time against Northwest, although the Ichabods have not defeated the Bearcats since 2018. The last meeting came on Oct. 8, 2023, a 1-1 draw in Maryville, Mo.
Missouri Western is 14-0-2 on the season with a 9-0-1 record in conference play.
MWSU will face Emporia State on Friday afternoon before their Sunday meeting with the Ichabods.
Senior Lauren Nylund leads the Griffons with five goals scored and joins three teammates with a team-high 10 points.
Kendall Knisley and Aidyn Woodall share the team lead with four assists each.
Keeley Kroonenberg has been one of the best goalkeepers in Division II this season, recording a goals against average of 0.37 and a save percentage of 0.872.
The Griffons have posted eight consecutive shutouts, last allowing a goal on Sep. 27 against Rogers State.
Washburn is 15-12-0 all-time against the Griffons. The last meeting came on Nov. 3, 2023, a 3-2 win for the Ichabods in overtime in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament.
Washburn will close out the regular season with a trip to Emporia State for the Turnpike Tussle on Nov. 6.
