The Waynesburg University women’s golf team knew coming into this season that there would be some adjustments to be had. 

After graduating three seniors, only one player is returning in junior  team captain, Maeve Hanley. Head Coach Mike Cipoletti spoke to what she can provide as a proven leader.

“She’s got a lot of experience because she’s been in the starting lineup since she’s got here,” Cipoletti said. “She’s a perfect person to be a captain for young players. She’s done a really good job.” 

Hanley cited team chemistry as the driving factor behind the success the team has this year. 

“Even though the majority of the time at matches isn’t spent together, bonding on the ride to and from matches is special,” Hanley said. “I also think that being there for each other and supporting each other, whether that be before or after a match or at a practice, is a big part of the team aspect of golf.” 

The Yellow Jackets’ roster has only four members, something that comes with its own set of challenges. 

“The disadvantages are obvious. With the majors that these girls have, three nursing majors, not just the work that they have to do but the time commitment, clinicals and labs,” Cipoletti said. “That makes practice time harder for them, but it makes making events tough.”

The group will be tested with that  against Bethany, where both Hanley and junior Sara Otto will not be playing due to class-related obligations. That leaves a lot on the plate of freshmen Julia Clement and Abigail Noble. 

“I just want to see them progress. I’d like to see their scores come down,” Cipoletti said on the plan for the freshmen this season. “Then get their feet wet and a foundation they can build on for the spring.”

Waynesburg fell in their season opener on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Geneva. Hanley paced the Yellow Jackets and was fourth out of the field, shooting a 119 on a par-71. As a whole, the team shot 540 compared to Geneva’s 389. 

Even though Hanley didn’t shoot as well as she had hoped, Cipoletti chalked it up to shaking off the rust in the first match of the year and gave a positive outlook for the future. 

“We want the girls to just keep improving, just keep working hard,” Cipoletti said. “They’re willing to do that. It’s a good group.” 

Hanley has high hopes for this fall, but has her eyes set on the spring season to really make the ultimate leap. 

“One of my specific goals for this year is to make the All Conference Team for PACs in the spring,” Hanley said. “That means for this season, continuing to improve and shooting low at fall PACs is something I’m striving for.”

Noble and Clement tee off Tuesday, Sept. 10, at Bethany   at 10 a.m., while the entire roster will be at Westminster on Saturday, Sept. 14. Tee time is 12:30 p.m.