LATROBE, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's soccer team (7-9-2, 5-5-1) fell in the Presidents' Athletic Conference Quarterfinals to the No. 3 seeded Saint Vincent Bearcats (14-3-1, 8-2-1) by a score of 5-0.
Junior
Alexa Taylor (Aliquippa, Pa./Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) led the Presidents with four shots, one of which being on target. Sophomore
Rylin Bugosh (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant) recorded three shots as well.
Saint Vincent took advantage of the home field and slotted home three goals in the first 19 minutes of play. W&J settled in and fought to get back into the contest. Junior
Madison Rose (Butler, Pa./Butler) forced a save by the Bearcat goalkeeper on a chance following a corner kick. Bugosh had an additional chance off a corner kick set piece. Additionally, sophomore
Natalie Faingnaert (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) had a opportunity that hit the woodwork.
W&J kept fighting to get back into the contest in the second half. The Presidents rallied off three quality chances in the opening 10 minutes. Taylor sent a free kick just over the bar. Bugosh had two additional chances as well. Taylor had an additional free kick opportunity that forced the Bearcat netminder to make an additional save. The Red & Black also recorded a chance that hit the crossbar.
The Presidents continued to create chances as Faingnaert and classmate
Rhyan Smith (Coal Center, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) both forced a Saint Vincent save. Sophomore
Ally Zidek (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Area) had an opportunity that hit the woodwork as well. The Bearcat defense continued to hold strong and ultimately Saint Vincent added two late goals to take the victory. W&J outshot the Bearcats 10-7 in the second half.
Senior
Molly Schoch (Burgettstown, Pa./Burgettstown) got the start in goal for the Presidents, recording five saves throughout the match.
Although the loss concluded W&J's 2026 campaign, there was a plethora of milestones for the Red & Black this season. The team successfully reached the PAC Playoffs for the first time since the 2023 season. W&J also picked up the most PAC conference victories since that same 2023 campaign. Offensively, Rose led the team with an eight-goal season. This was the most goals in a single season by a President since 2017. Additionally, six Presidents recorded their first collegiate goals. Defensively, the team had seven clean sheets throughout the season. Schoch individually had five shutouts in goal.
