The Waynesburg University women’s soccer team is now 3-0 in their 2018 campaign. Tuesday Sep. 4, the Jackets played in its home opener against Marietta and came away with a 2-1 victory.

“It’s good to get some wins under our belt,” said head coach Laura Heethuis. “I think that it gives the team confidence, I think that we need to look at each of the games and find lessons to learn from each one because they were all different. So, as long as we can do that then we can look to the future and look to the first conference game, which really means the most.”

The game began with a yellow card issued to Callie Heft from Marietta. Then, 39 seconds later, Waynesburg’s Emiy Hill scored her second goal of the season with an assist by Jill Moyer.

“I think that up top Leesha Wagner and Emily Hill have been doing a great job,” said Heethius. “We have had a lot of people step up into different roles in different ways, Christina Golonka has come into each game with a fire, showing her pace and working hard, that kind of attitude when you come in, you can’t beat it.”

It wasn’t too long after Waynesburg’s goal Marietta responded with a goal by Kayla Tomlin. The two teams went into halftime tied 1-1.

“Against Marietta we were up 1-0 and let in a goal, so, we talked about being resilient and being able to bounce back and you have got to figure those things out now in the nonconference games to have a chance because once conference hits it is for real,” said Heethuis.

And bounce back is exactly what they did in the 53rd minute when Jill Moyer broke the tie for the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets giving them a 2-1 lead.

“[At halftime] we talked about being a team that when someone throws a punch at you we got to be able to get back up and respond to it and keep moving,” said Heethuis.

Waynesburg was able to hold onto the lead and get the victory. Even though Waynesburg was victorious they were outshot 20-9, but were tied in shots on target with six.

Heethuis added that her goal for this season is to be in the top four in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference standings.

“You want to be a team that is in the conference tournament,” said Heethuis. “So, whether that is first, second, third or fourth does not matter to me I just want to make it there. So, I think that is the goal and you have to approach each game individually, so our first thought is going be St. Vincent on the 29th.”

The next game for the Waynesburg women’s soccer team is Friday Sep. 7, against Franciscan. The all-time series between the two teams is 4-3 in favor of Waynesburg.