By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's a little hard for former Washburn Rural and current Washburn University standout Belle Kennedy to accept the fact that her outstanding soccer career is entering the home stretch.
Two-time All-MIAA first-team pick Belle Kennedy (12) returns for her senior soccer season with Washburn University. [File photo/TSN]
"I feel so old,'' Kennedy said with a chuckle. "Honestly, time's flown by so fast. I remember my freshman year of high school and (Brian) Hensyel was coaching me and now I'm up to my senior year with Davy (Phillips). It's just ridiculous how fast it really goes by and you can never take anything for granted.''
But before the 5-foot-3 midfielder turns the page and embarks on her career as an ICU nurse, the two-time first-team All-MIAA pick wants to add a few more things to her resume.
Kennedy helped lead Washburn Rural to a pair of Class 6A state championship games while being named the 6A midfielder of the year as a junior and senior and has helped Washburn win back-to-back MIAA regular-season titles and a runnerup finish in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
In fact, a title is really the only accomplishment missing from Kennedy's to-do list.
"That would be the best thing ever, to go out with a bang and win the national championship,'' said Kennedy, who had three game-winning goals last season.
The Ichabods suffered heavy graduation losses off of last year's 14-4-3 team, but Phillips' team still returns a solid nucleus and as added a host of talented newcomers to the WU fold.
As the team's most experienced player with 62 games played, Kennedy knows she needs to be a leader this fall.
"I would say definitely the jump from junior to senior year is going to be a different role for me as far as it will be coaching my own teammates in a way that makes it all very cohesive when we're actually playing,'' Kennedy said.
"As far as my personal abilities, none of that will change, but as far as jumping into the leadership role of going from worrying solely about me for the most part, now I have everybody to greet and help bring into the program and that has definitely been a big key thing in the back of my mind.''
Washburn is just a few practices into preparations for the upcoming season, but Kennedy already likes what she's seen.
"We have so many new freshmen and a transfer and I aboslutely couldn't say anything bad about any of them,'' Kennedy said. "I love them all. I love all the new incoming players that we got.''
"We've got an incredible team here. Our team has never felt so cohesive with one another. I walk into the locker room and everybody's always smiling, everybody's always easy to talk to and everything like that. Everybody's so giggly, but easily can flip a switch and make sure that we're taking everything appropriately.''
Washburn will play home exhibitions on Sunday against Baker (7 p.m. start) and Aug. 23 against Southwest Baptist (1:30 p.m. start) before opening the regular season in St. Louis, Mo. on Sept. 4 against Maryville University.
The Ichabods will play their home-opener on Sept. 14 against the University of Mary (1 p.m. start).
