TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn soccer returns to Yager Stadium for a four game homestand, starting with Missouri Western on Friday at 6 p.m. and Northwest Missouri State on Sunday at 1 p.m. 

ABOUT MISSOURI WESTERN

• Missouri Western is led by fourth year head coach Jacob Plocher.    
•  The Griffons opened up MIAA play with a 1-1 tie at Central Oklahoma  on Friday and a 1-0 defeat of Northeastern State on Sunday. MWSU tied Drury 1-1 in their final non-conference game on Wednesday. 
•  MWSU finished the 2025 season with a 12-3-7 record and was 6-2-4 in the MIAA. Washburn defeated MWSU 2-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
• The Griffons add 14 freshmen and three transfers to go along with 11 returners.
•  Kendall Knisley leads the Griffons with three goals in 2026. 
•  Goalkeeper Morgan Byrd has recorded 28 saves and three goals against in seven matches. 
•  MWSU averages 1.13 goals, giving up 0.5 goals per match.
•  The Lions are averaging 11 shots and five shots on goal per match.
•  Assistant Coaches Bailey Brennan and Joshua Pooler round out MWSU'S coaching staff.
•  MWSU forward Rosemary Pujado is the sister of former Washburn football player Andrew Pujado. 

ABOUT NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE

• Northwest Missouri State is led by ninth year head coach Marc Gordon. 
•  The Bearcats are 0-6-1 so far in 2026, and lost to Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma by scores of 2-1 in the first weekend of MIAA play. 
• NWMSU fell to Missouri Western in the first round of the MIAA Tournament on penalty kicks last season. 
•  The Bearcats bring in eight freshmen, two transfers, and return 19 players to the 2026 roster. 
•  The Bearcats have four players with one goal recorded this season. 
•  Goalkeeper Leyah Scott has recorded 27 saves and seven goals against in five matches played.  
•  Northwest Missouri State averages 0.57 goals per match while allowing 1.7 goals.  
•  The Gorillas average 10.3 shots and 4.7 shots on goal per match. 
•  Assistant Coach Quaid Curtin and Graduate Assistant Olivia Heinert round out the Bearcats coaching staff. 

 

 BOD BREAKDOWN 

•  Washburn defeated Missouri Southern 6-1 on Friday and lost to No. 12 Pittsburg State 1-0 on Sunday to open MIAA play.
•  Missouri Western tied Central Oklahoma 1-1 on Friday and beat Northeastern State 1-0 on Sunday.  
•  Northwest Missouri State lost to Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma, 2-1 in both matches. 
•  Washburn returns 19 players from last year's NCAA Division II Championship Semifinal appearance, the Ichabods add one transfer and seven freshmen. 

SERIES HISTORY 

Washburn is 17-12-1 all-time vs Missouri Western. The Ichabods last defeated the Griffons on Nov. 21, 2025, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament winning 2-0. Kate Hinck and Leah Henke scored for the Ichabods in the match. 

Washburn is 17-10-5 against Northwest Missouri State all-time. The Ichabods last defeated the Bearcats 2-0 on Oct. 31, 2025. Jules Wardlaw and Mackinly Rohn scored in the win. 

 

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.
• The Ichabods add one transfer, Avery Young from Baker, also a Kansas native. 

 MILESTONE MARKERS 

•  Presslee Amick surpassed 1000 career minutes last Friday at Missouri Southern. 
•  Leah Henke is 31 minutes away from 2000 career minutes. 
•  Brynn Allison passed 1000 career minutes last Sunday at Pittsburg State.
•  Rilyn Snyder hit 3000 career minutes at Pittsburg State last Sunday. 
•  Haley Thomsen notched her first career goal at Ouachita Baptist on Sept. 11. 

 LOOKING AHEAD 

 The Ichabods conclude their four game homestand next weekend, facing Fort Hays State on Friday and Nebraska Kearney on Sunday.