WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson women's soccer team put together its strongest offensive effort of the season, defeating Penn State Behrend, 4-3, in nonconference action on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 16.
 
The Presidents improve to 2-2-1 overall on the season, including back-to-back wins.
 
Tied at one goal apiece at the start of the second half, Karli-Ann Sanders (Newcomerstown, Ohio/New Philadelphia) gave the Presidents their second lead of the game with her first goal of the season in the 47th minute. Just one minute later, Ashton Grimm (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville/Saint Francis (Pa.)) put the ball in the back of the net as she volleyed in a free kick from Brianna Floryshak (Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area).
 
The Lions responded in the 49th minute, scoring a goal to cut their deficit back to one.
 
Both teams continued to exchange offensive chances, but Tatiana Ruzzini's (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) shot in the 69th minute was the first to find the back of the net since Grimm's shot as Ruzzini gathered a loose ball in the box and shot with her left foot through traffic to inside the right post.
 
The Lions tallied a goal in the 73rd minute, but the W&J defense held strong the remainder of the game to hang on for the win.
 
Grimm started the scoring in the game in the 29th minute when she gained control of a blocked shot and tapped the ball past the keeper with the outside of her right foot.
 
Penn State Behrend evened the score just four minutes later to set the stage for the dramatic second half.
 
Grimm added an assist in the game with her two goals to finish with five points, one shy of her career high of which she set with a hat trick against Geneva on October 8, 2016. She, Ruzzini and Jordan Toohey (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant/Saint Francis (Pa.)) led the Presidents with four shots each in the game.
 
Josie Madden (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) finished with three shots, one on goal, and Chandler Marteeny (Somerset, Pa./Somerset) tallied two shots.
 
Allison Rinehimer (Berwick, Pa./Berwick Area) earned her second win of the season as the Presidents keeper, making two saves in the contest.
 
As a team, W&J held a 22-10 edge over Penn State Behrend in total shots, 11-5 in both halves, and put nine shots on goal to five for the Lions.
 
The Presidents will get back on the pitch on Tuesday, Sept. 19, for a nonconference road match against Franciscan at 4:00 p.m.