By: Alec Beaudin, Assistant Sports Information Director
WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's soccer team will be bringing back an experienced squad as the team looks to claim a spot back in the Presidents' Athletic Conference tournament after a two-year hiatus.
2025 Season Review: The Presidents' finished the 2025 season with a 6-9-3 record and was 3-5-3 in PAC conference play. The Red & Black picked up three wins in nonconference play to open the year with victories against Muskingum (2-0), La Roche (2-0), and Penn State Altoona (4-1). In conference play, the Presidents picked up three additional wins, and three important ties. Conference wins came against Hiram (2-0), Thiel (9-1), and Bethany (3-0). Additional points were awarded from draws against Franciscan, PAC runners-up Waynesburg, and Westminster. The Presidents went on to finish eighth in a closely contested PAC.
Reflecting on the season, Head Coach
Dan Dubois explains, "More than half of the 2025 team was first year players so we figured that were going to have great energy added to the program and we would experience some growing pains. Both of those were accurate. The focus was to be as competitive as we could be with such a young roster and more importantly, make sure we had the culture moving in the right direction. Results wise, getting at least a point in more than half of our PAC games was great and we were unlucky not to get more out of some matches. The plan is to move some of those close games and draws into the win column and position us for the postseason."
| 2026 PAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll (Predicted order of finish) |
| School (first-place votes) |
Points |
2025 record (conference) |
| 1. Grove City College (11) |
132 |
13-7-2 (10-0-1 PAC) |
| 2. Saint Vincent College |
115 |
15-4-1 (8-2-1 PAC) |
| 3. Waynesburg University (2) |
111 |
17-3-2 (8-1-2 PAC) |
| 4. Allegheny College |
90 |
6-9-5 (5-3-3 PAC) |
| 5. Franciscan University |
84 |
6-9-4 (5-3-3 PAC) |
| 6. Chatham University |
82 |
10-6-3 (7-4 PAC) |
| 7. Westminster College |
65 |
3-9-5 (3-5-3 PAC) |
| 8. Washington & Jefferson College |
62 |
6-9-3 (3-5-3 PAC) |
| 9. Geneva College |
52 |
6-7-5 (5-4-2 PAC) |
| 10. Hiram College |
37 |
5-13 (2-9 PAC) |
| 11. Bethany College |
27 |
2-14 (1-10 PAC) |
| 12. Thiel College |
13 |
0-17 (0-11 PAC) |
| Saint Francis University* |
--- |
0-14-2 (0-9-2 NEC) |
* - Ineligible for PAC Championship as school reclassifies from Division I
PAC Players to Watch
Newcomers: The women's soccer program welcomes 10 newcomers to the squad as part of the class of 2030. Additionally, the squad added two transfers into the program.
| No. |
Name (Hometown/High School) |
Yr. |
Pos |
| 5 |
Emma Paul (Hagerstown, Md./Williamsport) |
Fr. |
M |
| 9 |
Madison Rose (Butler, Pa./Butler) |
Jr. |
M |
| 10 |
Zailey Tillar (Annapolis, Md./Key School) |
Fr. |
F |
| 14 |
Alexa Hennessy (Wellsville, N.Y./Wellsville) |
Fr. |
D |
| 15 |
Elliana Semple (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) |
Fr. |
M |
| 16 |
Jesse Laskey (Eighty Four, Pa./Bentworth) |
Fr. |
D |
| 19 |
Leilana Speney (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) |
Fr. |
M |
| 20 |
Cali Evans (Finleyville, Pa./Bishop Canevin) |
Fr. |
D |
| 21 |
Aleia Eagle (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area) |
Fr. |
M |
| 24 |
Aubrey Seder (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland) |
So. |
D |
| 27 |
Abby Henke (Burgettstown, Pa./Burgettstown) |
Fr. |
F |
| 31 |
Alexia Fischer (Fredericktown, Pa./Beth Center) |
Fr. |
M |
"We know that we have additions this year that will continue to push us forward just as the incoming class last year did. Good players from good programs that want to be a part of continuing to build something positive. Very excited to get them back on campus in the next few weeks to get started."
Returners
Forwards – The Red & Black return their projected front three for the 2026 campaign. Senior captain
Maura Heberle (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) will be leading a front line that ranked fifth in goals in the PAC and third in assists. Heberle netted four goals and contributed two assists last season. Two of Heberle's four goals came as a game winner for the Presidents.
Sophomore
Rylin Bugosh (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant) led the team with seven goals during 2025. Bugosh also ranked eight in the conference in points, averaging a point a game during her rookie season. Junior
Alexa Taylor (Aliquippa, Pa./OLSH) ranked seventh in the conference in shots on goal, averaging 1.67 in 18 contests. Taylor also had two game winning goals as well. Additionally, sophomores
Ava Capozzoli (Canonsburg, Pa./Chartiers Houston) and
Bridget Callihan (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) will provide crucial minutes for the Presidents. Capozzoli appeared in all 18 games for W&J last season, scoring two and assisting two goals. Callihan appeared in 16 contests for the Red & Black, tallying two goals as well.
"Anytime that a program can return 10 of its top 11 scorers from the previous year and know that you are adding even more scoring threats, you are in a good spot. Maura, Alexa, and Rylin specifically know that as good as they were a year ago, we can be better and they have been putting in the work to ensure that happens. They all want to be the one to get the goals but more importantly they all want to do whatever is needed to be successful."
Midfield – Senior
Dove Corrette-Bennett (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) will be captaining the midfield during the 2026 slate. Corrette-Bennett netted three goals in 2025 and has been a key distributer in the Presidents' attacking build up. Sophomore
Katelyn Burley (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) started all 18 contests during her rookie campaign, tallying four assists. Burley finished last season tied for 10
th in the PAC for the category. Junior
Rhyan Smith (Coal Center, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) made appearances in 17 of the team's 18 games off the bench, contributing to three assists and finding the back of the net once last season. Additionally, sophomore
Grace Frazer (Upper Deerfield, N.J./Cumberland Regional) will be entering the Presidents' lineup after recovering from an injury throughout the 2025 season.
"We are excited that Grace is recovered from her injury and she has put in a lot of work in the last year to be ready to make an impact. Her composure and vision will be a great addition to our midfield. As far as expectations go, she is a player that sets a high bar for herself already, so our goal is to make sure she is prepared to get on the field and perform at her best every day."
Sophomore
Mela Barnhart (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) and
Graci Sampson (Titusville, Pa./Titusville) will also be contributing to the President midfield during the 2026 campaign.
Defense – The Presidents graduated three key pieces to the defensive side in
Tori DeVere (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley),
Linnea Johansson (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop), and
Camille Smith (Canton, Ohio/Lake). Returning though is a young, but experienced back line for the 2026 campaign. Sophomore
Ally Zidek (New Kensington, Pa./Kiski Area) returns to the back line after starting all 18 games throughout the 2025 year. Zidek tallied two assists for W&J. Classmate
Natalie Faingnaert (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) made 16 appearances, starting 15 games on the defensive side. Faingnaert also led the team in shots by a defensive player last season with 10. Junior
Kara Day (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) made 17 appearances as a defensive midfielder last season and logged two assists.
"Ally and Nat were constants for us last season on the back line as first year players and with their experience gained and growing confidence, I am confident that the backline is in good hands. We lost a great graduating class last year which is never easy to do, but Kara stepped up in the spring on the backline and with the rest of the returners and incoming players, I am confident we will be able to take another step forward this season defensively."
Junior
Mikalah Beardsley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) returns to the backfield after only appearing in two contests due to an injury last season.
Lexie Coen (Washington, Pa./Trinity) and
Mia Reddix (Canonsburg, Pa./Chartiers Houston) will also be looking to contribute with increased minutes in 2026.
Goalkeeping – Senior
Molly Schoch (Burgettstown, Pa./Burgettstown) returns between the goalposts for the Red & Black. Schoch played in 10 games last year and made nine starts. The senior made 52 saves and had two shutouts. Sophomore
Adysson Davis (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) will be looking to contribute in goal as well during her second season with the Presidents.
Coaching: Head Coach
Dan Dubois enters his fourth season at the helm of the Red & Black after being named head coach in April of 2023.
Abby Hipkins '24,
Sydney Snyder '25 and
Casey Bacha all return as second-year assistants for this upcoming season. Also joining the staff as an assistant coach is
Michael Zauzig from Carnegie Mellon.
"Even more important than having extra people around, we have added the right people. Abby, Syd, and Casey came in last season with energy and positivity and as a staff we were able to catch more people doing good things every day and letting the players know we see them. It helps that they all have knowledge to share as well. The addition of Michael this summer with his coaching experience and background is going to make an impact that will be felt immediately from the team as well."
Looking At the Schedule: W&J begins the 2026 season on September 1 with road matches at Marietta and Carlow. The home opener is currently slated for September 9 against Pitt-Greensburg, followed by the final nonconference matchup against La Roche (Sept. 11).
Presidents' Athletic Conference play for the Red & Black will commence on September 16 against Hiram. W&J will take on Saint Francis for the first time in program history on Sept. 22 before starting a two-game road trip against Saint Vincent and Waynesburg.
Senior Recognition Day for the class of 2027 will be on Oct. 3 when the team takes on Geneva. The final nonconference game will be on Oct. 13 when W&J travels to Baldwin Wallace to play the Yellow Jackets for the first time since the 2005 campaign.
The final push to the playoffs will feature home contests against Grove City (Oct. 20) and Chatham (Oct. 28).
The PAC playoffs are set to begin on Oct. 31.
Final Thoughts from Coach Dubois: "In the offseason we talked about the fact that we are excited about the direction of the program and our potential. Potential by itself doesn't get the job done though so we talked a lot about making sure we put in the work to deserve higher expectations. I am confident that they will return to campus along with the rest of the team ready to make sure their impact is felt in the PAC this year."
