LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's water polo team (6-4) fell to a tight 13-11 scoreline to the Occidental Tigers (4-14) in the first game of the team's spring break trip to California.
 
Freshman Mackenzie Caron (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) led the Presidents with six goals throughout the contest. Emmie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) contributed four goals as well.
 
W&J got out to an early 4-3 lead at the end of the opening period. E. Ratcliff and Caron each had two goals apiece in the first eight minutes. Occidental found an extra goal in the second to deadlock the contest at seven going into the final two periods. Caron scored a hat trick in the second period.
 
The Tigers broke the game open in the third period as they took a three-goal lead into the fourth. Caron and Junior Hallie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) each found the scoresheet in the third frame.  W&J put together a late run in the fourth period to try to cut into the Occidental lead but ultimately ran out of time and fell 13-11. E. Ratcliff found the back of the net twice to round out the W&J scoring.
 
Freshman Lani Weaver (Conroe, Texas/Conroe) made eleven saves in goal for the Presidents.
 
The Presidents return for the final game of the team's California trip when they take on the Caltech Beavers on Thursday (March 12) in Pasadena. The start time is still to be announced.