Box Score

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio (April 22) – The Waynesburg University women's lacrosse team ended the 2014 regular season on a disappointing note when it traveled to Franciscan University on Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets built up a 9-3 lead in the first half, but couldn't hold the advantage, as the host Barons scored with under 20 seconds remaining in the game to beat the visitors 16-15.
 
Franciscan (2-12) fired in the game's first two scores, before the Jackets (3-8) grabbed their first lead of the contest on back-to-back-to-back goals. Senior Toria Shepherd opened the scoring for Waynesburg and was followed freshman Susie Marcoux and sophomore Makayla Vidosh, respectively.
 
After the Barons tied the contest at 3-3, the Orange and Black looked ready to take control of the game after firing in six unanswered goals. Vidosh and freshman Holly Bachman notched a pair of scores each in the run, while Shepherd and freshman Jess Rains also found the back of the net.
 
After Waynesburg built up a 9-3 lead, Franciscan got back into the game with four-straight goals to cut its deficit down to just two points (9-7). Shepherd netted goal number three on the day to put her team up 10-7, before the host team split the pipes one more time in the first period to bring about a 10-8 halftime score.
 
After emerging from their locker room, the Jackets doubled their lead to 12-8 after Rains and Shepherd scored to open the second half. Franciscan responded with five of the next six goals to tie the score at 13-13 with 18:15 left to play.
 
After plenty of offense from both teams, the scoring ceased for almost 10 minutes before Rains put Waynesburg ahead 14-13 with 7:43 showing on the clock. After Franciscan retied the game at 14-14, Rains fired in Waynesburg's final goal of the contest to give it a 15-14 edge with just under seven minutes to play.
 
The opposing defenses took center stage once again, as both squads went scoreless for the next five minutes of action. Unfortunately, the Barons scored twice over the final two minutes to steal away the win.
 
Though the loss was a difficult one to swallow for the Yellow Jackets, there was still reason to celebrate. With her five-goal effort, Shepherd surpassed her head coach and former teammate Maria Shepas for most goals in a season with 32. Shepherd added two assists for a team-high seven total points in the loss.
 
Rains, Vidosh and Bachman chipped in four, three and two goals, respectively. Like Shepherd, Vidosh helped out on two of her team's scores. Junior goalkeeper JoHanna Phillips played all 60 minutes in net and made 11 saves.
 
With its regular season concluded, Waynesburg turns its attention towards the upcoming Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) tournament, which will be hosted by Saint Vincent College. The Yellow Jackets will face Thiel College in an opening-round match on Friday, April 25, in Latrobe. Start time is scheduled for 4 p.m.