ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Washington & Jefferson College women's lacrosse team was bested in a midweek road contest against the Mount Union Purple Raiders, 23-5.
 
W&J slides to 2-3 on the season while Mount Union uplifts to a 6-1 mark on the season.
 
The Presidents were led offensively by Mya Bolinda (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) who netted two goals on six shots. Reigning Presidents' Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week Brynne Stewart (Painesville, Ohio/Andrews Osborne Academy), freshman Avery Byard (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) and junior Caleigh Bogats (Oakdale, Pa./Chartiers Valley) each scored one goal.
 
Haley Lawyer (Glenside, Pa./Archbishop Wood) headed the Presidents defensive front with two caused turnovers and three ground balls. Bogats also grabbed three ground balls with one draw control.
 
The Purple Raiders struck first, scoring the first two goals of the contest. Byard, the freshman standout, netted W&J's first score of the game with a free-position goal to chip away at the Mount Union lead. Shortly after, Bogats ripped her 16^th goal of the season at the 5:09 mark to knot the score at two. The Purple Raiders responded with four-straight goals to close the action-packed first quarter, up 6-2.
 
Each side traded goals again to start the second period of play. Bolinda netted a man-up goal in response to the Purple Raider score to push the deficit to 7-3. Mount Union closed out the quarter with another offensive scoring barrage, netting seven additional goals to go up 14-3 at the half.
 
W&J jumped out on the offensive for the first time to open a quarter's scoring as Bolinda found the back of the net for her second score of the game on a free-position attempt. After a Purple Raider goal in response, Stewart scored the Presidents final goal of the contest with a man-down goal at the 5:35 mark, still down 15-5.
 
Mount Union went on to score the remaining eight goals of the game to take the 23-5 victory.
 
Gianna Baker (Carlisle, Pa./Trinity) made her season debut in goal with 60 minutes of action with six saves and picking up the loss.
 
The Presidents remain on the road to face Grove City on Saturday (March 22) in the Presidents' conference opener. Opening draw is set for 1:00 p.m.