The Waynesburg University women’s soccer team opened the 2021 season by hosting the University of Mount Union at John F. Wiley Stadium on Saturday. The team was originally scheduled to open its season against Lancaster Bible College on Wednesday at home, but the game was postponed. 

Mount Union scored quickly in the eighth minute of the game. Junior midfielder Madison Pepper scored to put the Purple Raiders up 1-0. Mount Union held on to the lead and led Waynesburg 11-3 in shot total in the first half.

The second half started off in a similar fashion as the Purple Raiders controlled most of the play continuing to outshoot Waynesburg. Mount Union added on to its lead in the 72nd minute after a goal from junior midfielder Andrea Decker. 

The Yellow Jackets would answer back late in the game with a goal by freshman forward Haley Johnson after a pass from junior forward Emily Redman. 

Waynesburg coach George DeAugustino was happy with the team’s response throughout the game. 

“I was very proud of how our team responded even after the first goal in the first half,” DeAugustino said. “We went right down and we got a few chances ourselves, and I was happy to see we were finally able to get rewarded after some hard work with a great corner kick from Emily Redman, and an absolute clinical finish from Haley Johnson.”

Johnson’s first collegiate goal in the 74th minute made it a 2-1 lead for Mount Union with just over 15 minutes left in the game. 

DeAugustino spoke highly of Johnson’s first goal. 

“Haley’s had a really good preseason and she has really impressed her coaching staff and her teammates,” DeAugustino said. “She’s worked really hard and she’s an incredible human. She does all the little things right and puts herself in the dirty areas and puts the ball in the back of the net.”

The Yellow Jackets played aggressive and kept up the energy for the rest of the game, but would ultimately fall to the Purple Raiders 2-1. Mount Union outshot Waynesburg 26 to 11 in the game, with junior goalkeeper Autumn Blair making seven saves for Waynesburg. 

DeAugustino also spoke about his team’s outlook for the season. 

“One of our core values as a group is choosing to be positive, and we look at those moments after we have a negative outcome as an opportunity for us,” DeAugustino said.

The Waynesburg women’s soccer team returns to John F. Wiley Stadium on Sept. 7 to host La Roche University at 7 p.m.