TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabod soccer team will open MIAA play this weekend with home contests against the Central Oklahoma Bronchos and the Newman Jets. Washburn looks to defend its 2023 MIAA regular season championship after finishing 9-1-1 in conference play last season. The Ichabods will face Central Oklahoma on Sep. 27 at 6 p.m. and Newman on Sep. 29 at 1 p.m., with both matches taking place at Yager Stadium.
 

--- KICKOFF ---

• Washburn Ichabod soccer opens conference play with home matches against Central Oklahoma and Newman.
• Washburn will take on the Bronchos at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sep. 27 and the Jets at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sep. 29, with both matches taking place at Yager Stadium.

--- BOD BREAKDOWN ---

• Washburn is 3-2-1 so far in the 2024 season.
• The Ichabods begin their MIAA title defense after going 9-1-1 in conference play last season.
• Washburn is ranked 21st in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Women's National poll.
• The Ichabods were picked first in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll with 137 points.
• Washburn returns 27 players from last year's national runner-up team, while adding two transfers and one freshman to the roster.

--- A LOOK AT LAST WEEK ---

• Washburn went 1-0-1 last week after playing two neutral contests in Kearney, Neb., defeating Black Hills State 6-0 and playing Western Colorado to a 0-0 draw.
• The Ichabods scored six goals in the win over Black Hills State, tied for the fourth-most in school history. It was the most goals scored by Washburn since the Ichabods also scored six goals against Newman on Oct. 16, 2022.
• Five different Ichabods scored goals in the match against Black Hills State, with three players recording their first career goals.

--- STACKING STATS ---

• Sophomore goalkeeper Hailey Beck is tied for 13th nationally with three shutouts posted in goal.
• Washburn ranks 5th in Division II in corner kicks taken per game. The Ichabods have taken 54 corner kicks for an average of 9.00 per game. 
• Washburn ranks 31st in Division II in shots per game. The Ichabods have taken 102 shots for an average of 17.00 per game.

--- BLUE REPORT ---

• Sophomore Presslee Amick found the back of the net twice in the win over Black Hills State for the first and second goals of her collegiate career. Amick currently leads Washburn with five points (two goals, one assist). 
• Junior defender Lakin Rold scored her first career goal to open the scoring against Black Hills State. Rold has started 50 games for the Ichabods in her career, tallying 3,746 minutes played.
• Junior Hunter McWilliams put the finishing touches on the win over the Yellow Jackets with her goal in the 88th minute. McWilliams was the third Ichabod to record their first career goal in the match.
• Sophomore Mackinly Rohn scored her first goal of 2024 against Black Hills State. Rohn scored four goals as a freshman in 2023.
• Senior Ana Muruzabal also found the scoresheet for the first time in 2024. Muruzabal was second on the team with eight goals last season.

--- MILESTONE MARKERS ---

• Khloe Schuckman is four goals away from 30 goals for her career and 87 minutes away from 5,000 minutes played for her career.
• Mackinly Rohn is three points away from 20 points for her career.
• Taylor Bockover is 54 minutes away from 4,000 minutes played for her career.
• Cloe Quintana is 43 minutes away from 3,500 minutes played for her career.
• Riley Wells is 71 minutes away from 3,500 minutes played for her career.

--- LOOKING AHEAD ---

• Washburn will head to Kearney, Neb. for the second time this season on Friday, Oct. 4, this time for its first away conference match against Nebraska-Kearney. The Ichabods will have an off-day on the typical MIAA matchday on Sunday, Oct. 6.
• The MIAA Championship Tournament begins on Sunday, Nov. 10 with the quarterfinals taking place on campus sites of top-4 seeds.

--- OPPONENT QUICK SCOUT ---

Match #7 - University of Central Oklahoma

• The Bronchos are coached by Amel Muhamedagic in his first season as head coach. Muhamedagic previously spent 17 seasons as an assistant coach at UCO.
• UCO is 3-3-0 this season after going 6-7-6 in 2023.
• The Bronchos are coming off a 2-1 road loss to Oklahoma Christian to close out its nonconference slate.
• Graduate midfielder Rebekah George leads UCO with three goals scored. George has also recorded one assist.
• Jordan Hahn and Rebecca Tweedy share the team lead in assists with two apiece.
• Senior defender Stormie Ramsey leads the Bronchos with 514 minutes played.
• Two goalkeepers have split time in net for UCO. Avery Bass and Olivia Vigil have combined for 21 saves and a goals against average of 2.17.
• The Bronchos have taken 96 shots this season while only allowing 62. UCO has a shots on goal percentage of 0.531 this season.
• Washburn is 3-12-1 all-time against UCO. The last meeting came on Oct. 20, 2023, a 2-1 win for the Ichabods in Edmond, Okla. Belle Kennedy and Khloe Schuckman scored the goals for Washburn.

Match #8 - Newman University

• The Jets are led by Dylan Gruntzel in his third season.
• Newman is 0-5-1 this season after going 2-15-1 in 2023.
• The Jets are coming off a 3-0 loss at Southern Nazarene in its final nonconference game.
• Newman will play at Emporia State on Sep. 27 before traveling further north to face Washburn.
• Marta Aranda, Lexi Bauer, and Katrina Kowitz have each scored one goal for the Jets this season.
• Sophomore forward Allison Hernandez leads Newman with two assists in 2024.
• Carla Apodaca has played 345 minutes in goal this season, making 19 saves. Apodaca has a goals against average of 2.61.
• The Jets have taken 38 shots this season with a shots on goal percentage of 0.500.
• Newman has made 34 total saves in goal in 2024.
• Washburn is 6-3-1 all-time against the Jets. The last meeting came on Oct. 22, 2023, a 3-0 win for the Ichabods in Wichita, Kan. Viviana Soto-Herrera scored two goals while Ana Muruzabal tallied the third goal for Washburn.