Williamstown girls win big over Tyler on senior night
The Williamstown girls soccer program recognized the eight seniors in their program prior to the start of Tuesday’s match with Tyler Consolidated at Williamstown High School. Pictured are, from left: Makaela Bandy, Morgan Nestor, Madelyn Jones, Lakyn Harshbarger, Addison Richardson, Quinn Bunch, Kadence Bandy and Macy Phelps. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
Williamstown’s Addison Richardson shoots at the goal for one of her three goals in the Yellowjackets’ 11-1 win over Tyler Consolidated, Tuesday at Williamstown High School. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
Williamstown keeper Bella McCoy, right, gathers up the ball as Tyler Consolidated’s Camryn Westbrook arrives during Tuesday’s match at Williamstown High School. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
Williamstown’s Quinn Bunch, right, gives coach Maddi Leggett a high-five during player introductions on senior night as the Yellowjackets hosted Tyler Consolidated, Tuesday night. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
Tyler Consolidated’s Camryn Westbrook (5) and Williamstown’s Makaela Bandy (2) chase down a loose ball during Tuesday’s soccer match at Williamstown High School. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
The Williamstown girls soccer program recognized the eight seniors in their program prior to the start of Tuesday’s match with Tyler Consolidated at Williamstown High School. Pictured are, from left: Makaela Bandy, Morgan Nestor, Madelyn Jones, Lakyn Harshbarger, Addison Richardson, Quinn Bunch, Kadence Bandy and Macy Phelps. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
Williamstown’s Addison Richardson shoots at the goal for one of her three goals in the Yellowjackets’ 11-1 win over Tyler Consolidated, Tuesday at Williamstown High School. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
Williamstown keeper Bella McCoy, right, gathers up the ball as Tyler Consolidated’s Camryn Westbrook arrives during Tuesday’s match at Williamstown High School. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
Williamstown’s Quinn Bunch, right, gives coach Maddi Leggett a high-five during player introductions on senior night as the Yellowjackets hosted Tyler Consolidated, Tuesday night. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
Tyler Consolidated’s Camryn Westbrook (5) and Williamstown’s Makaela Bandy (2) chase down a loose ball during Tuesday’s soccer match at Williamstown High School. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
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WILLIAMSTOWN - Lakyn Harshbarger stepped away from competitive soccer for nearly a decade. Deep into her first year back, the senior was able to savor joining the Yellowjacket scoring list for the first time this season in Tuesday's 11-1 win over Tyler Consolidated.
"All the cheering you heard was about it being senior night and going out there with all my teammates around me, and being able to score my first goal in my high school career," Harshbarger said. "This game has been a whole year of fun and excitement. And to be alongside my best friends on senior night was really exciting."
In addition to Harshbarger's goal with 11:34 remaining in regulation, Williamstown coach Maddi Leggett inserted a position player - senior Makaela Bandy - at keeper during the second half for the first time in Bandy's career.
"Putting me at keeper kind of started out as a joke - before every practice when we could come in early we would just pass it around and do whatever we want," Bandy said. "(Quinn) Bunch and I actually were kind of joking about being in goal one time. At halftime, my coach asked me if I really wanted to play keeper. I said yes.
"I'm just very grateful and blessed for every practice and game we have together. This is my second year playing soccer and I wouldn't want to do it with any other team."
Williamstown senior Addison Richardson put an exclamation mark on the perfect storyline to a perfect night where the program recognized the eight seniors on the roster. Richardson completed the hat trick with her third goal only 23 minutes into the match.
Richardson was one of four girls who fought hard to resurrect the Williamstown girls soccer program in time for the 2025 season.
"Coming into senior night was hard - it means letting go of our underclassmen that we have grown up with," Richardson said. "They helped us start this program last year, too. We could not have done it without them. It means a lot to bring this program forward."
The senior class of Richardson, Harshbarger, Makaela Bandy, Kadence Bandy, Morgan Nestor, Quinn Bunch, Madelyn Jones and Macy Phelps was responsible for nine goals - including Phelps scoring the 11th and final Yellowjacket score which ended the match with the mercy rule in play with 8:38 still showing on the clock.
Underclassmen Kenzy Biddle and Makayla Sivard accounted for the remaining two goals - both in a first half which saw Williamstown take a 7-0 lead into halftime.
Senior night was emotional for both players and coaches.
"I'm surprised I didn't cry tonight," Leggett said. "Getting to represent an all-girls program and no co-ed, that meant a lot to them, to their families and just the town in general.
"Lakyn getting her first goal was enough to cheer on tonight. Makaela getting her own save from her own punt that she tried to take, I don't think tonight could have gone any better."
Trailing 9-0 in the second half, Tyler Consolidated prolonged the match when MaKenna Martin scored in the 22nd minute.
The Silver Knights fell to 1-14-0, while Williamstown improved to 5-8-1 with a pivotal match upcoming on Saturday at 11 a.m. back on its home turf against Braxton County in the championship match for the Little Kanawha Conference.
The same two schools also met in the LKC title match last season. In a regular season match last month in Sutton, Braxton County defeated the Yellowjackets 3-2.
"Our record does not represent who we are," Leggett said. "Hopefully on Saturday we can come out and prove that things have changed. I think we can play with Braxton. We played well the first time we played them this season.
"As the season went along, our girls picked up on different clues. They started learning from each other."
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com
At Williamstown High School
Williamstown 11, Tyler Consolidated 1
TC (1-14-0) 0 1 - 1
WHS (5-8-1) 7 4 - 11
First Half
W: Addison Richardson (MaKayla Savard assist), 38:30
W: Richardson, 33:03
W: Madelyn Jones, 30:48
W: Kenzy Biddle, 29:30
W: Makayla Sivard, 22:44
W: Richardson, 16:58
W: Morgan Nestor, 11:29
Second Half
W: Quinn Bunch, 26:08
W: Kadence Bandy, 23:40
TC: MaKenna Martin, 22:00
W: Lakyn Harshbarger (Bella McLoy assist, 11:34
W: Macy Phelps, 8:38
Individual Stats
Williamstown: Bella McLoy 5 saves; Makaela Bandy 3 saves
Next match: Williamstown vs. Braxton County, 11 a.m. Saturday in LKC Championship at Williamstown High School; Tyler Consolidated at Buffalo, 6 p.m. Tuesday