BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (Oct. 25) – The Waynesburg University men's soccer team went into Wednesday night's regular season finale at Geneva already locked into its first Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) playoff spot since 2014. However, the Yellow Jackets still had a chance to clinch its first home playoff game since 2001, but knew they would have their hands full against the top team in the league.
 
After falling behind 2-0, Waynesburg roared back with three goals in the second half to earn a 3-3 tie with the Golden Tornadoes and ensure it would play one more game this fall at John F. Wiley Stadium. The draw gives Waynesburg (9-6-2, 5-3-2) 17 points in the PAC standings, which ties it with Chatham. However, the Jackets' 3-1 victory over the Cougars back on Saturday, Sept. 23, gave the Orange and Black the head-to-head advantage in the standings and the number-four spot.
 
Geneva (10-4-4, 7-0-3) opened the scoring in the 22^nd minute and increased its lead to 2-0 in the 54^th. With its hopes of a home playoff game fading, it was Waynesburg's freshmen that rose up to lead the way back against the perennial PAC powerhouses.
 
Freshman Matthew Serrano (North Potomac, Md. / Thomas S. Wootton) started the rally with his fourth goal of the season, which came in the 68^th minute. Classmate Vincent Palmeri (Edgewater, Md. / The Key School) tied the score with the first of three total goals scored in the final 6:40. Senior Alexander White (Bluefield, Va. / Graham) set up the equalizer.
 
Waynesburg grabbed its first-and-only lead of the night in the 85^th minute thanks to first-year Braden Esbenshade (Elizabethtown, Pa. / Mount Calvary) finding the back of the net off an assist from senior Benjamin White (Bluefield, Va. / Graham).
 
The Jackets had victory in sight as the game moved towards its conclusion, until a foul was called on Waynesburg in its own goalie box with just 1:02 showing on the game clock. Geneva cashed in on the penalty kick to snatch the tie out of the jaws of defeat.
 
Neither team was able to get a shot off during the final 62 seconds of play.
 
Though Geneva outshot Waynesburg 27-12, it only tried two more shots on goal (9-7) during the evening.
 
Junior goalkeeper Michael Francus (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) turned away six of those attempts over 90 minutes in net.
 
Waynesburg's run at its first-ever PAC title begins Saturday night at 7 p.m. under the lights of John F. Wiley Stadium against fifth-seeded Chatham. If the Jackets can take the Cougars down for a second time this fall, they would advance to a rematch with Geneva at the Golden Tornadoes' home field on Wednesday.