Fall athletics at Waynesburg University have struggled in recent years, and 2018 has been no exception.

Since 2015, the football team is 8-26. This season, they have begun the season 1-3.

On the flip side, the volleyball program has won more games this season than in the previous two combined, but the bad news is they are still just 3-13 overall.

The women’s cross country program is clearly the most successful of Waynesburg’s fall sports, but they’ve accomplished all there is to accomplish in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference with back-to-back conference championships, and the only way the team can top themselves is if they qualify for nationals, which they have never done before as a team.

Both the men’s and women’s soccer programs have gone in a similar direction as most of Waynesburg’s sports recently, with neither making the PAC postseason since 2014. If early results are any indication, however, the women’s team can do some damage in the conference.

While the men have struggled thus far, starting 3-6 as of this publication, the women are off to one of their best starts in recent memory at 4-2-2, and it’s time that the campus takes notice.

While women’s cross country is unquestionably the standout fall sport on campus at the moment, it isn’t easy for Waynesburg students to show their support. Aside from two meets right here in Greene County—including the PAC Championships on Oct. 27—the closet race location this season is Bethany, West Virginia, which is still more than an hour away. It also doesn’t help that most of Waynesburg’s races take place Saturday mornings, which aren’t the most optimal times to for students to travel.

Women’s soccer, on the other hand, has four home games remaining, starting with its conference opener Saturday afternoon against St. Vincent. If it’s hot start is any indication, the women’s soccer team will give Waynesburg students a more accessible sport to get behind.

The Yellow Jackets’ start to the season isn’t just exciting because of their win-loss record, but also because of how many underclassmen have stepped up in key roles. The team features just three seniors, and of those three, defender Mackenzie Shaffer is the only regular starter. Another starter, junior goalkeeper Courtney Syfert, will be graduating early this spring, but nonetheless, most of Waynesburg’s impact performers are young.

Their leading goal scorer, forward Emily Hill, is a sophomore.

Another sophomore, midfielder Jill Moyer, leads the team in assists, and freshman Leesha Wagner has started all eight games this season. Where the team has excelled the most this season, however, is defensively, which is also propelled by youth.

Among those who have contributed to a backline that’s allowed just 10 goals in eight games—almost half of which came in Saturday’s 4-0 loss at Baldwin Wallace—are sophomore Jessica Silbaugh, who was honored as PAC defender of the week earlier this season, and freshman Megan Briski.

It’s yet to be determined if the women’s soccer team’s hot start is sustainable. The team was 4-3-1 at this point last year, and only won three games the rest of the way to finish 3-6 in the PAC. As of right now, however, the women’s soccer team is worth watching; they are winning. Students should appreciate that because it’s been a rarity with fall sports at Waynesburg.