WAYNESBURG, Pa. (April 15) – The Waynesburg University women's lacrosse team hosted Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) rival Bethany on Saturday for senior day. The Yellow Jackets battled the Bison, but a slow start hampered the home team, as they fell 21-12.
 
Bethany (5-8, 1-4) scored the first five goals of the day in a 4:39 span. Waynesburg (2-9, 0-5) responded with points from seniors Eve O'Sullivan (Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) and Tori Meiklejohn) that made the score 5-2.
 
The Bison answered with the final three goals of the opening quarter and stretched their advantage to 10-2 with the first two scores of the second. Senior Tara Wildner (Johnstown, Pa. / Richland) and O'Sullivan slowed the bleeding with back-to-back tallies that made the score 10-4.
 
Bethany scored to move ahead 11-4, before Meiklejohn split the pipes twice to pull the Jackets to within five at 11-6. Unfortunately, the Green and White again posted a strong finish to a quarter and by the time the siren blew for halftime, Bethany led 14-6.
 
The Bison advantage grew to 15-6 to open quarter number three before senior Rachel Caldwell (Ligonier, Pa. / Ligonier Valley) split the pipes to make the score 15-7. The two conference rivals traded goals before back-to-back Bethany tallies put the road team up 18-8.
 
Facing their largest deficit of the day, the Jackets responded with its largest scoring run of the sun-drenched afternoon. Meiklejohn got the 4-0 spurt going with the final goal of the third quarter. Freshman Kerry Ryan (Timonum, Md. / Mercy) followed with back-to-back scores and Meiklejohn logged her second in a nine-minute span to make the score 18-12 with 8:30 remaining in the contest.
 
Bethany halted the rally and posted the final three goals of the day to bring about the final score.
 
Meiklejohn had a senior day to remember by scoring a game-high six goals. O'Sullivan and Kerry posted two goals each. Another senior, Alexis Shandor (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin), grabbed a pair of assists. Wildner played a strong game, defensively, with four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
 
Sophomore Anna Bradley (Bridgeville, Pa. / South Fayette) posted a game-high 12 saves and a team-best five ground balls over 60 minutes in goal.
 
Waynesburg plays its final home game of 2023 tomorrow when Wells comes to John F. Wiley Stadium for a non-PAC match. Start time is scheduled for 2 p.m.