WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Feb. 28 – The Waynesburg University women's lacrosse team enters the 2023 season looking to improve on last season's 0-12 mark. First-year head coach Steph London is more than up to the challenge of pushing the Jackets up the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) ladder.
 
Coach London knows what it takes to bring success to a program thanks to her four-year playing career at NCAA Division II national powerhouse West Chester University in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She was a part of four Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship squads that also advanced to four national title games during her time with the Golden Rams. London tallied 30 goals, six assists and 19 ground balls in her collegiate career.
 
London's roster returns last season's top three goal scorers and features 10 upperclassmen who will provide veteran leadership and experience.
 
Leading the Yellow Jackets will be 2022 all-conference honorable mention midfielder/attacker Eve O'Sullivan (Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe). The standout senior led the 2022 Yellow Jackets in goals (22), shots (68) and was tied for the team lead in points (24). O'Sullivan posted multi-goal performances in four games last season, including a six-score explosion in a 22-14 non-conference defeat at Muskingum.
 
Junior midfielder Tori Meiklejohn (Boonsboro, Md. / Boonsboro) will also play a key role in the Yellow Jackets' offensive attack. She finished second on the Jackets last season in goals (20), groundballs (23) and shots (42).
 
Expect senior midfielder Rachel Caldwell (Ligonier, Pa. / Ligonier Valley) to also join the offensive attack as she posted 14 goals last season on 30 shots on goal. Caldwell started all 12 of the Jackets' games last season and led the team in assists (7).
 
Senior attacker Tara Wildner (Johnstown, Pa. / Richland) has showcased constant improvement since joining the squad as a freshman and looks to end her Wayneburg career with a bang.
 
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets return seniors Alexis Shandor (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin) and Madi Zajdel (Washington, Pa. / Trinity) to go along with junior Megan Wilson (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Allegheny). All three logged significant minutes last season and will be in line to anchor the Jackets' defensive core in 2023.
 
In goal, sophomore Anna Bradley (Bridgeville, Pa. / South Fayette) is expected to retain her starting position while freshman Diana Gurecka (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Seton LaSalle) looks to unseat the sophomore incumbent. Bradley finished last season fourth in the PAC in saves per game (9.92) and sixth in the league in ground balls per game (3.83).
 
The 2023 season opens at home on Friday, March 3, when the La Roche Redhawks travel to John F. Wiley Stadium for a 4 p.m. non-conference tilt.