Griffon soccer falls in opening round of NCAA Tournament to Washburn
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The quest for an NCAA Division ll championship will have to wait another year for Missouri Western soccer.
The No. 5 seed Griffons (12-2-7) fell to the No. 4 seed Washburn Ichabods (11-3-5) 2-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Mankato, Minnesota.
The Griffons were able to stifle the Ichabods until the 32-minute mark when freshman forward Kate Hinck scored off an assist from teammates Leah Henke and Grace Peterson, staking Washburn to a 1-0 lead.
The score would remain 1-0 until the 64th minute in the 2nd half, with Henke making it 2-0 on an assist from sophomore Sam Searcey.
The Griffons were unable to get in the scoring column despite multiple shots on goal, including two attempts from Rosemary Pujado, Kendall Knisley and Rachyl Benavides.
The loss ends an impressive season for the Griffons, who made their second consecutive NCAA Tournament and won their first MIAA Tournament Championship last Saturday against Central Oklahoma.
