ERIE, Pa – The Washington & Jefferson College women's water polo team (3-1) split the first two matches at the Mercyhurst Invitational. The Presidents opened the day by beating the Penn State Behrend Lions 20-12 before dropping a close battle with the Division I La Salle Explorers 21-15.
 
W&J 20, PSU Behrend 12
The freshmen led the way for the Presidents. Mackenzie Caron (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) led the way for the Presidents with seven goals and an assist. Caron also won all four opening swim-offs in the contest. Chloe Majorprice (Manchester, Mich./Skyline) scored five goals of her own. Emmie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) and Hallie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) combined for seven goals for the Red and Black. Sophomore Autumn Woollcott (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) rounded out the scoring for W&J.
 
The teams went back and forth in the opening eight minutes as W&J took a narrow 5-4 lead into the second frame. W&J broke the game open in the second period, outscoring the Lions 7-2 before the halftime break. The Lions tried to make a run in the third, holding the Presidents to only three goals, but W&J responded with a run of their own. Strong defense from the Red and Black held the Lions to only one goal in the final period to secure a 20-12 victory.
 
Freshman Lani Weaver (Conroe, Texas/Conroe) made six saves in goal for the Presidents.
 
W&J 15, La Salle 21
E. Ratcliff led the way for the Presidents with five goals and an assist. H. Ratcliff and Freshman Caron each had a hat trick of goals and two assists in the contest. Rounding out the scoring for W&J were freshmen Majorprice and Gutierrez. Majorprice had two tallies for the Presidents and Guiterrez had one.
 
The Presidents were showing there fight against the Explorers right from the opening swim-off. The Explorers took a two-goal lead out of the opening eight minutes, but the Presidents were able to find the back of the net five times. W&J kept pace with La Salle in the second period and netted four more goals.
 
The Explorers came into the second half of play up 11-8 and were able to extend their advantage. The difference in the contest came in the third period as the Explorers won the eight minutes 6-2 to take a 17-10 lead. W&J continued to fight till the end and won the closing period 5-4.
 
Weaver made 11 saves in net for W&J throughout the contest.
 
The Presidents return for their final game at the Mercyhurst Invitational when they have an early morning clash with the hosts Mercyhurst. Play will commence on Sunday (March 1) at 9:30 a.m.