LEXINGTON, Va. -- Rachel Clauss scored seven goals, including three in Washington & Jefferson's 12-7 victory over Notre Dame (Ohio), Saturday as the Presidents opened the 2014 season at the Virginia Military Institute Invitational.  W&J lost matches to Mercyhurst (18-8) and Gannon (15-3) before defeating the Falcons. 

Clauss also scored a hat trick in the Mercyhurst setback.  Sara Boldt, Madison Nervig, Margot Wummer, Laura Travers and Brittany Patterson all scored one.  Aly Hopkins was the goalie and finished with six saves.  Morgan Kinyon recorded seven saves in the loss to the Golden Knights.  Nervig scored twice, while Clauss added one tally. 

Patterson backed up Clauss with two goals during the Presidents' first victory of 2014.  Seven other Presidents got into the scoring column and Hopkins collected her first collegiate win in goal after making six saves. 

W&J wraps up tournament play at VMI Sunday (9:30 am) versus Grove City.