WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Sept. 1) – The Waynesburg University women's soccer team opened the 2016 season with a home game against Juniata on Thursday. A young Yellow Jacket squad that featured four freshman starters and three more off the bench battled back from a slow start before coming up just short of victory in a 2-1 defeat.
The Eagles (1-0) jumped out to a 2-0 lead after finding the back of the net in the 12
th and 53
rd minutes. Waynesburg (0-1) avoided the shutout when junior
Nikki Davis took a slick feed from junior
Melanie Byler in the 62
nd minute to cut the lead in half at 2-1.
The Jackets kept up the pressure over the final 27 minutes of play, but were unable to tally an equalizer that would have sent the contest into overtime. Waynesburg stayed right with the opposition, despite being out-shot by a 21-10 margin.
Freshman
M'Kenna Murphy took the loss in net after making a game-high six saves over the final 45 minutes of play. She relieved junior starter
Heather Fraser, who stopped three-of-four shots on net during the first half.
Waynesburg will have to get over the loss quickly, as it is back in action tomorrow with a road trip to La Roche. Start time is scheduled for 3 p.m.