TOPEKA, Kan. – No. 18 Washburn opens MIAA play this weekend, facing Missouri Southern on Friday and No. 12 Pittsburg State on Sunday.

SERIES HISTORY

• Washburn is 16-9-6 all-time vs Missouri Southern The Ichabods last defeated the Lions on Oct. 10, 2025, winning 5-1. Leah Henke had a hat trick scoring goals in the 13th, 15th, and 17th minutes. 
• Washburn is 2-0-0 against Pittsburg State all-time. The Ichabods defeated the Gorillas 2-0 on Oct. 12, 2025. Sam Searcey scored a pair of goals in the match.

 

 BOD BREAKDOWN 

• Washburn had 2-0 shutout wins on the road at Ouachita Baptist and Harding last weekend to remain undefeated at 4-0-1. 
•  Missouri Southern lost to Northeastern State 4-0 in their last match on Sunday. 
•  Pittsburg State defeated Southwest Baptist and Northwest Missouri 3-0 in a pair of non-conference games last weekend. 
•  Washburn returns 19 players from last year's NCAA Division II Championship Semifinal appearance, the Ichabods add one transfer and seven freshmen. 

ABOUT MISSOURI SOUTHERN

•  Missouri Southern is led by 1st year head coach Elliot Chadderton.    
•  The Lions finished its non-conference schedule with a record of 1-3-1 most recently losing to Northeastern State 4-0 this past Sunday. 
•  MSSU finished the 2025 season with a 2-13-3 record and was 0-10-2 in the MIAA. 
•  The Lions add four freshmen and five transfers to go along with 22 returners.
•  Four different Missouri Southern players lead the team with one goal scored this season. 
•  Goalkeeper Bella Smith has recorded 25 saves and 10 goals against in five matches. 
•  MSSU averages 0.8 goals, giving up two goals per match
•  The Lions are averaging 13 shots and five shots on goal per match.
•  Assistant Coaches Aidan Bilbao and Wendy Louque round out MSSU's coaching staff.
   

ABOUT PITTSBURG STATE

• Pittsburg State is led by third year head coach Wes Branstetter. 
•  The Gorillas are 6-0-0 to begin the 2026 season.
•  PSU fell to St. Cloud State 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season. 
•  The Gorillas bring in four freshmen, two transfers, and return 20 players to the 2026 roster. 
•  Ryann Caruth is PSU's leader in goals scored with four. The Gorillas have four other players with two goals scored this season. 
•  Goalkeeper Jocelyn Kramar has recorded 12 saves and no goals against in six games played.  
•  Pittsburg State averages 3.17 goals per game while allowing none. 
•  The Gorillas average 19 shots and 9.7 shots on goal per match. 
•  Assistant Coach Lucca Munhoz and Graduate Assistant Alesha Kostrzewa finish out the Pittsburg State coaching staff.
   

 BACK FOR MORE 

•  Senior Defender Lindsey Maul returns to Washburn after starting in all 22 of her appearances last season. Maul was named All-MIAA First Team, USC Central Region First Team, and D2CCA Central Region Second Team in 2025. 
•  Forward Leah Henke returns to Washburn for her sophomore season. Henke started in 21 of 23 appearance. while leading the team in goals (12) and points (26). She scored 12 goals in the 2025 season which ranked fourth in program history. Henke's 0.52 goals per match is second in program history and is fourth with 1.13 points per match. Henke was named All-MIAA First Team, MIAA Freshman of the Year, USC Central Region First Team, and D2CCA Central Region Second Team in 2025.  
•  Senior Defender Rilyn Snyder is back at Washburn for her senior season after starting in all 24 games last season. Snyder led the team in minutes with 2078 and scored her first career goal on October 17 against Northeastern State. Snyder was named to the All-MIAA Second Team and MIAA Academic Honor Roll. 
•  Sam Searcey returns to Washburn for her junior year after appearing in all 24 games, which included 10 starts. Searcey was third on the team with five goals and 38 shots. She was named All-MIAA Third Team and CSC Academic All-District in 2025. 
•  Senior Forward Mackinly Rohn returns to Washburn after starting in all 24 games a season ago. Rohn enters her senior season 10th all-time in assists with 11. Rohn was named to the All-MIAA Third Team and the CSC Academic All-District Team.
•  Grace Peterson is back at Washburn for her senior season, in which she started all 22 of 24 games last season. She recorded three assists, the first of which came against Missouri Southern on October 10, 2025. Peterson was named to the All-MIAA Third Team and was named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. 
•  Lili Everley enters her sophomore season after starting in 22 of 24 matches last season. She made a career high nine saves in the NCAA Second Round against Minnesota State. Everley was named to the All-MIAA Honorable Mention Team and was named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, MIAA Scholar Athlete and MIAA Academic Excellence lists.
•  Sophomore Midfielder Bricelyn Betts is back at Washburn after appearing in all 24 games, which included two starts last season. Betts was second on the team with four assists in 845 minutes played. Betts was also named to the All-MIAA Academic Honor Roll in 2025. 
•  Kate Hinck returns for her sophomore season at Washburn. Hinck started all 24 games, recording 1421 minutes last season. Hinck was second on the team with seven goals and tallied the most shots with 69. She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team and MIAA Academic Honor Roll in 2025. 
•  Presslee Amick has played in 36 games in three years as an Ichabod. Amick appeared in one game and missed the rest of 2025 season to injury. 
•  Sophomore Midfielder Lydia Keller returns to Washburn for her sophomore season. She played in 17 of 24 matches and recorded her first career assist against Nebraska-Kearney on October 3 last season. Keller was named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll in 2025. 
•  Thea Martin is back at Washburn for her sophomore season. Martin recorded 11 games played and 343 minutes in 2025. Martin was a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll last season. 
•  Senior Forward Kylie Hinrichs appeared in all 24 games, including four starts totaling 801 minutes last season. Hinrichs scored her first career goal against Fort Hays State on October 26, which was also the game winning goal. 
•  Brynn Allison returns to Washburn for her sophomore season. Allison appeared in 20 matches and started in 10 of them. Allison's first career assist came in a 5-1 win over Missouri Southern on October 10. 
•  Jules Wardlaw enters her sophomore year as an Ichabod. Wardlaw appeared in all 24 games, totaling 845 minutes. She scored two goals in the 2025 season including a game-winner against Northwest Missouri State on October 31. 
•  Senior Defender Aubree Blackman enters her second year as an Ichabod after two years at Emporia State. In 2025, Blackman appeared in 20 games, tallying 509 minutes of action. 
•  Brooke Willcott, Ruby Wexler, and Destiny Higgs return to Washburn after redshirting their freshmen seasons. 
   

 NEW FACES 

•  Washburn adds seven freshmen,  including four Nebraska  natives, and three Kansan's.
•  Ichabods add one transfer Avery Young from Baker, also a Kansas native. 

 

 MILESTONE MARKERS 

•  Sam Searcey eclipsed 20 career points last time out against Harding. 
•  Bricelyn Betts surpassed 1000 career minutes last Friday at Ouachita Baptist. 
•  Avery McCorry scored her first career goal at Harding on Sunday
•  Jules Wardlaw hit 1000 minutes at Ouachita Baptist last Friday. 
•  Haley Thomsen notched her first career goal at Ouachita Baptist on Friday. 

 

 LOOKING AHEAD 

•  The Ichabods return home after a four game road trip, facing Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State on Friday and Sunday next weekend.