Aug 21, 2017 3 min read

More than 10 months after the Waynesburg High School girls soccer team’s magical season ended, head coach Joe Kijowski still can’t believe it.

The 3-1 semifinal loss to Freeport – the eventual WPIAL Class AA runner-up – concluded a season in which the Raiders had the most wins in program history (16) and dominated Section 3 with seven shutout victories that helped secure their first section title.

“It was a new section with the classification changes and we didn’t really know what to expect,” Kijowski said. “I couldn’t have dreamed we would have been as successful as we were. I couldn’t believe how well we played.”

Saying the season was successful might be an understatement. The Raiders split their two opening matches at the South Fayette Tournament to begin 2016, then rattled off 10 straight wins. Waynesburg outscored opponents 50-6 in those contests and put the team in position to control the section.

The only thing that could stop Kijowski’s team was rain, which led to a 2-1 loss to Derry, the only section loss of the season.

After rebounding with three straight wins, including a 6-3 section-clinching victory over Southmoreland, Waynesburg was on its way to the WPIAL playoffs for the second consecutive year.

In 2015, the Raiders lost to eventual Class AA champion Mars, 2-1.

“Making a long playoff run and playing that deep into the season caught up with us a bit in the end,” Kijowski said. “We made the playoffs for the first time in a long time two years ago. Last year, with not having a huge number of players, two long seasons can definitely start to take a toll. Just like anything else, it’s about having the experience and building on it.”

The building process will be aided by a group of returning starters at midfield – Bailey Fudala, Jillian Kijowksi and Elise Benke. Benke is working her way back from knee surgery but should be ready at some point this season.

Replacing center back Lauren Rose is high on the to-do list for Joe Kijowski.

He said that a possibility would be moving goaltender Maddie McCarty to defense, leaving the goalie spot undecided two weeks before the Raiders open their season again at the South Fayette Tournament over Labor Day weekend.

“It’s not simply just subbing one player in for another,” he said. “It’s about replacing her communication and awareness on the field.”

The Raiders shouldn’t have trouble scoring this year with the return of senior forward Madison Clayton, a Pitt recruit. Clayton has scored 84 goals through her first three years on varsity.

Similar to last season, Kijowski doesn’t know what to expect from the conference or how it might affect Waynesburg’s chance of repeating.

“It’s hard to tell because you never know who is coming in,” he said. “I’m thinking Yough, Charleroi and Derry – even though it lost its keeper – will be competitive. We’re scrimmaging now but that tournament is always a real good way to get the season started before section play. Scrimmages are great and all, but they aren’t the same as playing a real game. It’s real in a little under two weeks.”