WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson men's lacrosse team closed out the nonconference portion of its schedule with a 10-3 loss to rival Mount Union at home on Wednesday night, March 14.
 
After allowing six first-half goals, the Presidents got on the board at 4:23 in the third quarter when Mark Mandak (Enola, Pa./Trinity) set up Pat Heidecker (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) for his 12th goal of the season, tying freshman Patrick Brunner (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) for the team lead.
 
Less than two minutes later, Ben Ward (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) found the back of the net for his 10th score of the season with Sam Lex (Butler, Pa./Butler) receiving credit for the assist.
 
The Purple Raiders responded by scoring the next four goals to increase their lead to 10-2 before Mandak scored his sixth goal of the season with two seconds left on the clock to reach multiple points for the third straight game and fourth time overall this year.
 
Ward led W&J with 12 shots on offense and Mandak finished right behind him with 10. Mandak established a new career high by picking up six ground balls to lead the team. Joseph Tritschler (New Kensington, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) scooped up four ground balls while Ward and Noah Cohen (Hewlett, N.Y./George W. Hewlett) both finished with three ground balls.
 
Lorenzo Ruscitto (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) was the only President to tally multiple ground balls (2) and caused turnovers (2) for the defense.
 
Cohen (2-6) suffered the loss as the W&J goalkeeper after making 11 saves in the contest, his sixth game of the season with at least 11 stops.
 
The Presidents will return to the turf on Saturday, March 17, when they travel to Ohio River Lacrosse Conference foe Earlham for a 1:00 p.m. face-off.