WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Aug. 31) – The Waynesburg University women's soccer team put together arguably the greatest season in program history during the fall of 2025. The Yellow Jackets went 17-3-2 overall, setting a new record for overall victories in a season, won their first Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) title and came one goal shy of winning a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) championship.
 
With just one starter lost due to graduation and every other major contributor returning, the Jackets are primed under sixth-year head coach George DeAugustino to reach an even higher level of success in 2026.
 
FORWARDS
The Waynesburg attack is keyed by one of the most prolific scorers in program history, senior Julz Mohrbacher (Freedom, Pa. / Freedom). Mohrbacher led the PAC in goals (17) and total points (41), while earning first-team all-conference laurels last fall. She was also lauded as a first-team All-ECAC pick, a first-team United Soccer Coaches All-Division III Region VII pick and was twice named PAC Offensive Player of the Week. The two-sport standout (women's basketball) comes into her final season on the pitch ranked fourth in total career points (since 2000) (89), third in total goals (38) and 10^th in total assists (13). Her 41 total points and 17 goals in a season are seventh-most in team history.
 
Mohrbacher has also established herself as one of the most effective scorers in all of Division III, as she enters her final season in Orange and Black ranked fourth amongst all active players with 38 goals scored.
 
Joining Mohrbacher up front is junior Amanda Pepe (Mantua, N.J. / Gloucester County Institute of Technology), who was named second-team All-PAC and first-team All-ECAC. She led the PAC in game-winning goals (5), while also ranking third in the league in total points (32), fourth in goals (13) and fourth in assists (6). Pepe was honored as a PAC Offensive Player of the Week and made her mark on the team record book by setting Yellow Jacket records in goals in a game (4) and total points in a contest (eight) during a PAC win over Bethany.
 
Senior Kylie Criddle (Lewisburg, W.Va. / Greenbrier East), junior Alex Delaney (Sturgeon, Pa. / South Fayette) and sophomore Kya Huggins (Fairview, W.Va. / North Marion) add further depth to the Orange and Black attackers.
 
MIDFIELDER
Waynesburg will be able to send wave after wave of midfielders at the opposition in 2026. Sophomore speedster Miracle Hershey (Lebanon County, Pa. / New Covenant Christian) leads the group after being named honorable mention All-PAC. While her five goals are notable, Hershey made her biggest impact as a passer and led the conference with 10 assists. She also finished third in the league with three game-winning goals.
 
Senior Hailey Gilchrest (Hanover, Va. / Hanover) started all 22 games last year and recorded 12 points on five goals and two assists. Speaking of assists, sophomore Jessi Jury (Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield) tied for third on the team with six of them as a freshman.
 
Senior Bee Roberts (McDonald, Pa. / West Allegheny), sophomore Sophia Bertazon (Phoenix, Md. / St. Timothy's), senior Amanda Sweeney (Hagerstown, Md. / Grace Academy), sophomore Adi Gardner (Mount Pleasant, Pa. / Mount Pleasant), junior Brynn Kirby (Waynesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg Central), sophomore Ryan White (Lewisburg, W.Va. / Greenbrier East), junior Sydney Brown (Kittaning, Pa. / Armstrong), sophomore Bella Norton (Selden, N.Y. / Newfield) and senior Nicky Veychek (Irwin, Pa. / Yough) fill out a crowded returner group at the position.
 
DEFENDER
While Waynesburg's offensive exploits got plenty of well-deserved attention, it could be argued that the Jacket defense was the real strength of the team. The Orange and Black gave up the fewest goals (13) and fewest goals per game (0.59) of any team in the PAC. They also logged the most total shutouts (14) in the league.
 
This year's team could be even stingier thanks to the return of first-team All-PAC defenders Abby Ngugi (Jefferson Hills, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson) and Waverly Lorne (New Providence, N.J. / Governor Livingston). The individual accolades for both players extended outside the PAC, as Ngugi was named first-team United Soccer Coaches All-Region and first-team All-ECAC. Lorne was recognized as third-team All-Region by United Soccer Coaches and helped out the offense with four assists.
 
Senior Jocelyn Stiffler (Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern) started 21 of the team's 22 games in 2025 and sophomore Gracie Smith (Monroe, Ohio / Monroe) jumped right into the fray by earning starts in 19 of the 20 games in which she appeared as a freshman.
 
Like the midfielders, there is tremendous experienced depth in front of the net.
 
Junior Natasha Ward (New Cumberland, W.Va. / Oak Glen), sophomore Hailey Finneran (Joppa, Md. / Perry Hall Christian), sophomore Kaleigh McKenney (Gilbert, Ariz. / Highley), senior Abby Woodford (Pottsville, Pa. / Pottsville Area), sophomore Kailey Youngblood (Upper Darby, Pa. / Upper Darby), senior Kaylee Jegla (Chesterfield, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse High School North) and senior Rylie Alexander (Mount Clemens, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse High School North) should allow D'Augustino to keep fresh, effective players on the pitch at all times.
 
GOALKEEPER
On the rare occasions that the opposition was able to unload a shot on goal, senior Lex Greenlief (Chester, W.Va. / Oak Glen) was usually up to the challenge of denying the attempt. Not only that, but she put together the stingiest season of any keeper in program history.
 
Greenlief was named first-team All-PAC, second-team United Soccer Coaches All-Region, MVP of the ECAC title game and a PAC Defensive Player of the Week after leading the conference and ranking 11^th in all of Division III with a .893 save percentage. She also led the league with a 0.65 goals against average and logged a PAC-best 11 shutouts. Her 11 clean sheets also allowed her to finish seventh in Division III.
 
Greenlief enters her final season between the pipes with the program's top spot in career save percentage (.832), goals against average (.092), wins (31) and shutouts (17.0).
 
The Jackets also boast quality returning backups in senior Emily Beck (Pittsburgh, Pa. / West Mifflin) and junior Alex Francus (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park).
 
Waynesburg opens the 2026 campaign on Tuesday, Sept. 1, with a solid road test at non-PAC member Mount Union. After playing its first four games on the road, Waynesburg opens the home portion of its schedule against Baldwin Wallace on Friday, Sept. 11. Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

BONUS: Click on this link to hear Coach DeAugustino and Julz Mohrbacher's preseason interview.