NORTHEAST KANSAS (KSNT) — The Turnpike Tussle returns to the pitch.
The Washburn Ichabods will travel south to Emporia to face the Hornets for the first and only time this season, barring a matchup in the postseason.
The ‘Bods are 9-1-1 this season with a 5-1 mark in conference play.
The Hornets are 5-3-3 overall and 2-1-2 in MIAA matchups, but they’ve held strong against ranked opponents. ESU defeated No. 21 Maryville 3-2 in the second game of the season, and held No. 4 Pittsburg State to a 0-0 draw on Friday, Oct. 2.
Washburn soccer head coach Davy Phillips knows that it will be a tough contest deep in conference play.
“I think that is a team that plays with a lot of emotion, and they have a couple of players going forward that are really dynamic,” Phillips told 27 Sports. “They’re really good and there’s going to be a lot of bite to that game.”
In last year’s regular season matchup, the Hornets and Ichabods drew, 0-0. A collision between a player from each squad nearing the game’s final seconds wrapped up the game. In the first round of the MIAA tournament, ESU picked up the 3-2 win.
Emporia State soccer head coach Jane Grimley-Gunn says the passion players on both teams have makes this rivalry even better.
“It’s always an emotional game, the way that they play and that we play,” Grimley-Gunn said. “Last season there was a really traumatic injury that occurred in one of the games too, and there’s a lot of history there. I think it’s one that always brings out all of the feelings.”
Kickoff for Sunday’s game is set for 1 p.m. in Emporia.
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