PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's lacrosse team put together a strong opening quarter of play to collect a 16-13 victory over host Chatham University in Presidents' Athletic Conference play at Graham Field in Pittsburgh.

The win moves the Presidents to 2-1 in the conference and 4-4 overall. The Cougars drop to 4-4 overall and 2-1 in the PAC as they suffer their first loss.

Mya Bolinda (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) continued her impressive junior campaign. Bolinda posted a career-high six goals in the victory. Bolinda added an assist, three caused turnovers, two ground balls and two draw controls.

The trio of Caleigh Bogats (Oakdale, Pa./Chartiers Valley), Avery Byard (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) and Ella Holland (Healdsburg, Calif./Healdsburg) also aided the offensive efforts.

Bogats finished with four goals, two ground balls and a game-high seven draw controls. Holland tallied two goals, two assists, four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Byard added a pair of goals. Haley Lawyer (Glenside, Pa./Archbishop Wood) recorded four ground balls defensively.

The Presidents used a dominant first quarter to jump out to a 7-0 lead after the first quarter of play. Bolinda scored three times in the first 15 minutes as W&J sprinted out to the advantage. Byard and Bogats registered two scores during the opening quarter.

Following three-straight Cougar scores, Holland broke up the run with an unassisted goal. W&J recorded two of the next three scores to head into halftime with a 10-4 lead. Bolinda and Byard found the back of the net in the final 1:18 of the second quarter.

W&J led by at least four goals for the duration of the third quarter. Anna Kloehn (Canton, Ohio/Jackson), Bogats and Brynne Stewart (Painesville, Ohio/Andrews Osborne Academy) scored a goal apiece in the third. The Presidents led by a 13-8 margin heading to the fourth.

Chatham closed the deficit to a pair of goals late in the fourth quarter. However, the Presidents were able to finish off the victory as Bolinda scored in the final seconds.

Gianna Baker (Carlisle, Pa. / Trinity) made seven saves to secure the win in goal. 

W&J held advantages in shots (35-23), shots on goal (20-13), ground balls (20-12) and caused turnovers (7-3). Both teams finished with 16 draw controls.

The Presidents host Allegheny for a conference matchup on Saturday (April 5). The match will serve as the team's Morgan's Message game. Start time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Alexandre Stadium.