By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer is finally back at Yager Stadium after a string of four road games and will play host to Missouri Western at 6 p.m. Friday and Northwest Missouri State at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The Ichabods enter the week with a record of 7-1-2.
Washburn goalkeeper Raegan Wells is only allowing .7 of a goal per game and has posted five shutouts for the Ichabods' soccer team. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn has won seven of its first 10 games for the first time since 2006.
The Ichabods are coming off an 0-0 tie with Northeastern State on Sunday after taking a 1-0 win over Rogers State last Friday.
Washburn is 2-0-1 in conference play after defeating the Hillcats and tying with the RiverHawks and is tied for second place in the MIAA entering the week.
Ichabod goalkeeper Raegan Wells is allowing only .7 of a goal per game and has recorded a solo shutout in five games this season.
Jaedyn Johnson leads the Ichabods with five goals on only 16 total shots while Haley Rogers and Khloe Schuckman lead WU with 13 shots on goal. Johnson is tied for fourth in the MIAA in goals scored.
Eight different players have scored a goal for the Ichabods this season.
Washburn is third in the MIAA, averaging 7.7 shots on goal per game. The Ichabods also have the third-lowest goals allowed per game average at .7.
Western enters the week with a record of 3-4-3. Last week the Griffons tied with Nebraska-Kearney 1-1 and lost to Fort Hays State, 1-0.
Washburn has faced off with Missouri Western State 24 times in program history, with both schools winning 12 games.
Washburn has lost its last six matchups with the Griffons, with the Ichabods' last win coming on October 21, 2016.
Goalkeeper Keeley Kroonenberg leads the Griffons with 46 saves on the season and has played every minute so far.
Sunday's opponent, Northwest Missouri, enters the week with a record of 5-3-2.
Last week Northwest Missouri lost to Fort Hays State, 1-0, and beat Nebraska-Kearney, 4-0.
Four different players scored goals and recorded assists in the win over the Lopers.
Washburn holds a 12-8-4 lead in the series with Northwest Missouri State.
The last matchup between the two teams came in the 2021 MIAA tournament where Northwest Missouri State eliminated Washburn, winning 5-0.
The Ichabods have lost the last three matchups against the Bearcats, with the last win coming in 2018.
