Washburn Ichabod soccer team kickstarted their 2023 season off well. The first two home games were won at what should be considered blowouts.
The first home game was held on Friday, Sept. 8 against Southwest Minnesota State ending at 4-0 for WU. The second game against Wayne State ended with the score at 4-1 in Washburn’s favor.
Belle Kennedy, sophomore center-midfielder, commended both teams for giving the Ichabods a good game both nights. Even as the scores continued to trail apart she never felt as though the other teams lost heart.
Kennedy explained how the games differed from each other.
“Friday’s game was more in the physicality spectrum and Sunday was more athletic,” Kennedy said. More running today and Friday was more tackles.”
Kennedy had the most field time by a non-defender on Sunday’s game, keeping the ball upfield and putting pressure on the opposing team.
Goalie, Raegan Wells #0, defenders Lakin Rold #14 and Taylor Bockover #3 made the sport look easy, each player logged all 90 minutes on the field. They doubtlessly had a huge impact on the very offensive game that afternoon, keeping their zones safe and the ball away from WU’s side of the field.
Bockover made a good play. Kennedy complimented their transformation, moving from an outside back position to now a center defender.
“She’s really brightened up, playing a position she’s not necessarily used to. She really stepped up today. She even blocked a goal with a bicycle kick, I think she did extremely well,” Kennedy said.
Sunday’s game was almost a flawless victory for the Ichabods. Zero cards were given, and only one point was scored on the WU team.
Washburn dominated the field that day, with more than half the game spent attacking the goal.
In soccer where the points usually stay in the single digits, stats like “shots” or “shots on goal” stand out more than the actual goals or assists when looking at the team as a whole.
In the game against Wayne State, Washburn’s team outperformed with 13 shots on goal to WSU’s 2.
Here are the stat sheets for the games the team has played until now for anyone interested.
Mackinley Rohn, freshman in pre-nursing, forward and #24, won Hy-Vee’s student athlete of the week award for how well she played on Friday and Sunday. She assisted on three-fourths of the goals made on Friday and made an impressive goal on Sunday as well as an assist.
Rohn is pumped for her next games and more opportunities to get more goals.
“I was thinking I’m pumped up for the next game. I play to make more chances and make more goals. My main focus is to make more assists than goals but I’ll take both,” Rohn said.
After losing the first point to WSU Davy Phillips, head coach got a little nervous, but after the Ichabods first and second goal, he felt more comfortable.
The second goal was what he’d considered the highlight of the game.
“The shot by Aubrey, the second goal of the game. It gave us a second to breathe and relax,” Phillips said.
Now that these games are over the conference games are coming up. The first four games were non-conference getting everyone pumped up for what’s to come.
“These non-conference games are starting to compound and we’re growing,” said Phillips. “It’s executing vs developing now, so we got to shift our focus a little bit.”
Today, Sept. 15, Washburn Ichabod’s play their first conference game against the Emporia State Hornets at 7 p.m., and then the Nebraska State Lopers the Sunday after at 2 p.m.
Click here for this season’s schedule.
Edited by Larissa Morgan and LeSha’ Davis
