The Waynesburg University Women’s Soccer team defeated the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Bobcats 3-2 in overtime yesterday night to advance to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship.

“This may not be [Presidents’ Athletic Conference] playoffs but it’s a second chance for us,” All-PAC second team recipient Amanda Pepe said. “We still want a trophy and we still want to win a championship and this is the way to do it.”

The win set a new school record for most wins in program history.

“It’s an awesome achievement for this team,” head coach George DeAugustino said. “They have worked really hard and I am really proud of them. Hopefully we get one more win next week.”

The Yellow Jackets took early possession of the ball and were eager to score first in the game, as Miracle Hershey broke away from a defender in the 7th minute and passed the ball over to Julz Mohrbacher, who fired a shot to the bottom left corner of the goal to give Waynesburg a 1-0 lead. Hershey now leads the team in assists with 10. 

In the 8th minute, Megan Hickey received a pass from Shaylene Ceruti for a breakaway and buried the ball in the back of the net to tie the game up at 1-1.

“It’s looking in a mirror,” DeAugustino said. “They play the same style and play the same formation. If you listen to their coach, it sounds just like me. It’s two teams that are equal.”

The game remained tied heading into the half as Waynesburg collected 10 shots with one being on goal. Pitt-Greensburg had four shots with two being on goal. The Bobcats had four corner kicks to the Yellow Jackets three. 

It was a defensive battle heading into the later half of the game until Bella Carroto sent the ball rolling past Lex Greenlief to put the Bobcats up 2-1 in the 75th minute.

Hailey Gilchrest gained the ball from Waverly Lorne in the 77th minute and sent the equalizer shot over the head of the goalkeeper Kira Howcroft from long-distance to make the game 2-2.

“We call those the Gilly goals,” DeAugustino said. “The Gilly goal came out to play tonight. I told her to get to a shooting moment and rip one to see what happens. She played really well today.”

The game was still tied after 90 minutes of regulation and it headed into overtime. In the 97th minute, Abby Ngugi sent the ball into play on a free kick to Pepe, who sent the ball past Howcroft to end the game, 3-2.

“It was all a blur in my mind right now,” Pepe said. “It was such chaos in the box that no one could see where it was going, which helped blind the goalkeeper.”

Throughout the game, Pepe had a few shots on goal that were inches away from going in. She says that her teammates encouraged her to stay determined in the game.

“I started to get in my head a little bit,” Pepe said. “But my teammates here are saying, ‘Let’s go’ and ‘keep it up.’ Really, I give all the credit to them for helping me get through that game.”

The Yellow Jackets finished the game with 23 shots, eight of them being on goal, compared to the Bobcats’ 10 shots and seven being on goal. Greenlief ended the game with five saves.

“It’s hating to lose and loving to win,” DeAugustino said. “That’s what kept them going. I thought we played a really good game. We probably should have had a few more goals, but just missed a few.”

Waynesburg will host Keene State on Saturday, Nov. 22nd, at 4 p.m. for the ECAC Championship. 

“I’m excited,” Gilchrest said. “Hopefully we can come home with a trophy next weekend.”

DeAugustino looks forward to continuing the season for one more week for the three seniors on the team.

“Excited to play for a trophy, ” DeAugustino said. “They earned the right to be together for seven more days. That’s what we are fighting for, to extend the career of three players.”