WAYNESBURG, Pa. (March 22) – The Waynesburg University women's lacrosse team squared off with fellow Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) member Saint Vincent in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday night. Though the Yellow Jackets fell 23-12, improvements under first-year head coach Steph London continued to shine through for the Orange and Black.
 
Through four games, Waynesburg (1-3) currently ranks sixth in the PAC in goals per game (10.50) and fifth in assists per game (3.25). The Jackets also rank sixth in total points per game (13.75). Last year, Waynesburg averaged 4.92 goals, 1.42 assists and 6.34 total points per contest.
 
Similarly, Waynesburg tallied just five and two goals, respectively, in its two 2022 meetings with Saint Vincent (4-1).
 
The Jackets opened the scoring 1:41 into the game thanks to senior Rachel Caldwell (Ligonier, Pa. / Ligonier Valley). After SVC tied things at 1-1, senior Tori Meiklejohn (Boonsboro, Md. / Boonsboro) gave her team the lead back with a tally after 2:43 of play. Again, the Bearcats responded to tie the score, and, again, the Jackets answered the bell, this time with senior Eve O'Sullivan (Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) scoring her first of the night.
 
Saint Vincent grabbed its first lead of the game thanks to back-to-back goals that made the score 4-3 with 3:01 remaining in the opening period. Waynesburg got the last laugh of the opening 15 minutes when O'Sullivan knotted things back up at 4-4, which was the score when quarter number two got underway.
 
Unfortunately for the home team, the talented Bearcats split the pipes four times to open the period and held an 8-4 advantage before the Jackets countered with consecutive scores by Meiklejohn that pulled Waynesburg to within two at 8-6. After Saint Vincent rebuilt a three-goal lead at 9-6, Meiklejohn fired in her fourth of the half to bring about the halftime score of 8-6.
 
The night's final outcome was ultimately decided in the third quarter, which was dominated by the Green and Gold. The Bearcats outscored the Jackets 8-2 and went to the fourth with a 17-9 lead. Meiklejohn scored her fifth of the night, while sophomore Sam Earnest (Honey Brook, Pa. / Conestoga Christian) tallied her first of the game.
 
The fourth quarter saw the two teams trade three-goal runs to close out the evening. After SVC moved ahead 20-9, Waynesburg tried to rally with a score from Meiklejohn and two more from O'Sullivan. The Bearcats posted the final trio of tallies to bring about the final score.
 
Meiklejohn's six-goal performance was the biggest scoring outburst by a Waynesburg player since O'Sullivan split the pipes a half-dozen times against Muskingum nearly a year ago to the day on March 23, 2022. Speaking of O'Sullivan, she went for five total points (four goals, one assist), while senior Alexis Shandor (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin) logged a squad-best two assists.
 
Sophomore Anna Bradley (Bridgeville, Pa. / South Fayette) tallied 10 saves over 60 minutes in goal and recorded a game-high five ground balls.
 
Waynesburg is back in action on Saturday, March 25, when it hosts Spalding for another non-PAC tilt. Start time is scheduled for 1 p.m.