WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's soccer program will look to enter the 2025 season with a renewed look. The program will bring in a large freshman class combined with a strong returning core.
 
W&J looks to make its 10th appearance to the Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament in the past 12 years.
 
"The returning players will be coming back to the team this fall having spent the offseason really solidifying what they see as above the line or below the line behaviors and making sure that every player understands what those standards are and holding each other to them," said Head Coach Dan Dubois. "The buy in from this group is high and we are really excited about adding new players to the mix."
 
2024 Season Review: The Presidents posted a rocky 2024 campaign, finishing with a 5-11-2 overall record (2-7-1 PAC). W&J got off to a 4-4-1 start to the season in the months of August and September. Victories over Geneva (2-1), Penn State Altoona (3-1) and La Roche (5-1) highlighted the opening months of the season.
 
During the month of October, the Presidents entered brief losing streaks against key conference opponents. W&J's sole victory came on senior recognition day against Thiel, 4-0. The Presidents went on to finish ninth in the PAC standings, two games out from a conference tournament appearance.
 
"Our goals remain the same as they have been in the past: Make sure that we are doing the small things daily that will allow us to compete in every match and give ourselves a chance to compete in the conference postseason tournament," added Dubois.
 

2025 PAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll (Predicted order of finish)
School (first-place votes)	Points	2024 record (conference)
1. Grove City College (8)	116	13-4-3 (8-0-2 PAC)
2. Westminster College (3)	105	11-6-1 (9-0-1 PAC)
3. Allegheny College	96	12-7-1 (7-2-1 PAC)
4. Saint Vincent College	95	13-6-1 (6-4 PAC)
5. Waynesburg University (1)	76	8-5-4 (4-3-3 PAC)
6. Franciscan University	71	4-12-1 (3-6-1 PAC)
7. Chatham University	56	8-9-2 (3-5-2 PAC)
8. Washington & Jefferson College	55	5-11-2 (2-7-1 PAC)
9. Bethany College	40	8-7-3 (5-4-1 PAC)
10. Geneva College	39	3-13-1 (2-8 PAC)
11. Hiram College	32	3-14 (1-6 NCAC)
12. Thiel College	11	3-15 (0-10 PAC)

 

Washington & Jefferson College Players to Watch
Name	Yr.	Pos.	Hometown/High School
Audrey Chapman (Elkins Park, Pa./Phil-Mont Christian Academy)	Sr.	F	Elkins Park, Pa./Phil-Mont Christian Academy
Dove Corrette-Bennett (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock)	Jr.	M	New Castle, Pa./Neshannock
Maura Heberle (Hookstown, Pa./South Side Beaver)	Jr.	F	Hookstown, Pa./South Side Beaver
Kendall Obley (Buena Vista, Pa./McKeesport)	Sr.	M	Buena Vista, Pa./McKeesport
Alexa Taylor (Aliquippa, Pa./OLSH)	So.	F	Aliquippa, Pa./OLSH

 
Team Captains: Camille Smith (Canton, Ohio/Lake) and Kendall Obley (Buena Vista, Pa./McKeesport)
 
"Camille did a great job last year and she will be joined by Kendall this season," said Dubois. "We have talked a lot over the course of last spring and summer about where they can make the most impact in their final year and leave a positive lasting impression for the future of the women's soccer program. They are just as excited as I am to get back to campus and get going."
 
Position-By-Position Breakdown:
 
Forwards – W&J will look to build off of their growing offense this past season after scoring 25 goals. With four newcomer forwards entering the fold, the unit looks to remain on track in developing their offensive identity.
 
W&J returns one of its leading scorers from last season in senior Audrey Chapman (Elkins Park, Pa./Phil-Mont Christian Academy). Chapman scored a team-high four goals for the Presidents last season and will look to elevate her game even further as one of the more tenured players on the offensive side of the pitch.
 
Selah Calacan (Waldorf, Md./North Point) also returns as a versatile weapon offensively and throughout the midfield. The speedy Calacan netted two goals last season and dished out one assist. She will look to continue to add pace and agility to each unit in her senior season.
 
Maura Heberle (Hookstown, Pa./South Side Beaver) and Alexa Taylor (Aliquippa, Pa./OLSH) will also look to be in the mix for consistent playing time on the offensive end. Heberle scored two goals and picked up one assist last season as a rotational piece. In her freshman season Taylor scored two goals, one being scored in the Presidents victory over Thiel.
 
Four incoming freshmen will also look to contribute to the forward unit including Ava Capozzoli (Canonsburg, Pa./Chartiers Houston), Rylin Bugosh (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant), Rhianna Grogan (Charleroi, Pa./Charleroi) and Bridget Callihan (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold).
 
"One of our main goals for this past offseason was working on how we develop our offense and how we can find ways to create more scoring opportunities for Audrey, Kendall, and the rest of the attacking players, stated Dubois. "We have tough, athletic players so we need to make sure we are providing them the opportunities to show what they can do."
 
Midfield – The midfield holds most of the Presidents' returners from a season ago. The midfield unit is highlighted by 2025 co-captains, Kendall Obley (Buena Vista, Pa./McKeesport) and Camille Smith (Canton, Ohio/Lake).
 
Obley finished third on the team in scoring last season, netting three goals and adding two assists. The senior captain will look to command the midfield for her final season as a President.
 
Smith also returns as an offensive contributor from a season ago, scoring two goals and two assists. Smith was one of six players to start in 17 or more games this past season.
 
Junior Dove Corrette-Bennett (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) returns as a key piece to the midfield. Corrette-Bennett scored one goal last season in eight starts as a sophomore.
 
Sophomores Kara Day (Clairton, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) and Rhyan Smith (Coal Center, Pa./Elizabeth-Forward) also return to the midfield unit following their freshmen campaigns. Smith appeared in 17 games while Day played in 14.
 
Incoming freshmen to the unit include Grace Frazer (Upper Deerfield, N.J./Cumberland Regional), Mela Barnhart (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan), Graci Sampson (Titusville, Pa./Titusville) and Katelyn Burley (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills).
 
Defense – The W&J backline lost a few starters to graduation and will look to reimagine the core of their defensive unit.
 
"Last year we spent a lot of time defending individually all over the field which puts a ton of pressure on players to play as close to perfectly as possible," said Dubois. "That's not an ideal situation for any player to find themselves in so as we head into this preseason the focus will be on our team shape and defending as a unit.  With new players coming into the mix to mesh with a couple great upper classmen, I am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish."
 
At the top of that list will be senior Tori DeVere (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), a three-year starter on the Presidents' backline. DeVere has brought a gritty and pesky style of play to the W&J defensive units for the past three seasons and will look to do more of the same in her final season. For the first time in her collegiate career, DeVere scored a goal in a victory over Penn State-Altoona at the 20-minute mark.
Senior Linnea Johansson (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) along with sophomores Mikalah Beardsley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and Mia Reddix (Canonsburg, Pa./Chartiers Houston) will also look to return as contributors to the W&J backline. Reddix returns with one start under her belt from her freshmen campaign.
 
Five newcomers will also enter the fold in the defensive unit including Kayla George (Midway, Pa./Fort Cherry), Lexie Coen (Washington, Pa./Trinity), Kyra Greenawalt (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward), Ally Zidek (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Area) and Natalie Faingnaert (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township).
 
Goalkeeper – The keeper room returns its starter from last season in Molly Schoch (Burgettstown, Pa./Burgettstown), while adding some depth in the incoming class of freshmen.
 
"Molly had a big year last year, being thrust into the starting role right away and she stepped up and performed well when needed," said Dubois. "Adding two more good goalkeepers to the mix will provide all of them a chance to compete and push one another day in and day out which will help them each reach new heights and give us a great keeper in net every match."
 
Schoch started 15 games last season and appeared in 17 games as a sophomore transfer from Division II Edinboro. The gritty keeper racked up 38 100 saves in year one with the Presidents with a 3-11-2 record.
 
W&J also adds freshmen Gianna Patterson (Fox Chapel, Pa./Fox Chapel) and Adysson Davis (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) into the mix for some playing time in goal.
 
Newcomers: The women's soccer program adds one of their largest incoming classes of student-athletes in recent memory with 15 total freshmen.
 
"As with any freshmen class, the faster they realize that soccer in college is the same sport they have been playing their whole life, the better we will be," added Dubois. "There is a lot of experience in this class, and the objective will be to get everyone comfortable playing together so we can let them showcase that as early in the season as possible. We have a challenging preseason ahead of us, but we are excited to get the team together and get on the field."
 

No.	Name (Hometown/High School)	Yr.	Pos.
0	Gianna Patterson (Fox Chapel, Pa./Fox Chapel)	Fr.	GK
3	Ava Capozzoli (Canonsburg, Pa./Chartiers Houston)	Fr.	F
10	Kayla George (Midway, Pa./Fort Cherry)	Fr.	D
11	Lexie Coen (Washington, Pa./Trinity)	Fr.	D
12	Kyra Greenawalt (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward)	Fr.	D
13	Rylin Bugosh (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant)	Fr.	F
15	Grace Frazer (Upper Deerfield, N.J./Cumberland Regional)	Fr.	M
18	Ally Zidek (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Area)	Fr.	D
19	Rhianna Grogan (Charleroi, Pa./Charleroi)	Fr.	F
25	Mela Barnhart (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan)	Fr.	M
26	Graci Sampson (Titusville, Pa./Titusville)	Fr.	M
28	Natalie Faingnaert (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township)	Fr.	D
29	Bridget Callihan (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold)	Fr.	F
30	Katelyn Burley (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills)	Fr.	M
44	Adysson Davis (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward)	Fr.	GK

 
Coaching Staff: Head Coach Dan Dubois enters his third season as leader of the women's soccer program after being named head coach in April of 2023. 
 
Dubois added three new coaches to his staff for the 2025 season including Abby Hipkins '24, Sydney Snyder '25 and Casey Bacha. Hipkins and Snyder were both multi-year members of the women's soccer program as players.
 
"We have added three great people to the coaching staff for the 2025 season," added Dubois. "All three come in with a background not only in soccer but also in teaching which is going to come in very handy as we start our work with a pretty young roster. The energy and focus that each of them brings will make an immediate impact and they are all very excited to be here representing the Red and Black!"
 
Looking At The Schedule: The 2025 season begins with the season opener on the road against Muskingum (Aug. 29). Following their season opener, the Presidents will return for their home opener against Marietta (Sept. 2).
 
For the remainder of the month of September, the Presidents will face four opponents on the road and three at Alexandre Stadium. On the road, W&J travels to La Roche (Sept. 5), Carnegie Mellon (Sept. 10), Pitt-Greensburg (Sept. 20) and Geneva (Sept. 23) for their conference opener. During their home contests, the Presidents will face Penn State Altoona (Sept. 7), Juniata (Sept. 13) and Hiram (Sept. 27).
 
To kickoff their October schedule, W&J will face Franciscan at Alexandre Stadium for the Presidents' home PAC opener on Wednesday (Oct. 1).
 
Returning to Alexandre Stadium for two games, W&J will face off against Allegheny (Oct. 9) and Chatham (Oct. 1).
 
The remaining home games include matchups against Waynesburg (Oct. 4), Saint Vincent (Oct. 15), Bethany (Oct. 22) and Westminster (Oct. 29). The final away games during the regular season include Allegheny (Oct. 8), Chatham (Oct. 10), Thiel (Oct. 18) and Grove City (Oct. 25).
 
The six-team PAC Tournament is scheduled to begin on Saturday, Nov. 1.