ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Washington & Jefferson College women's lacrosse team (3-5) was bested in neutral site play at the University of Mount Union to the nonconference Rhodes Lynx (9-3), 19-11.
 
Avery Byard (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) led the team in scoring with the team's sole hat trick on the night. The sophomore scored three goals and claimed three draw controls. Brynne Stewart (Painesville, Ohio/Andrews Osborne Academy), Ella Holland (Healdsburg, Calif./Cardinal Newman) and Mya Bolinda (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) each contributed two goals. Haylee Phenneger (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) and Caleigh Bogats (Oakdale, Pa./Chartiers Valley) both netted one goal apiece.
 
Holland, Bogats and Phenneger each led the team in caused turnovers with one. Freshman defender Sarah Brown (Denton, Md./North Caroline) led the team in ground balls with three on the night.
 
The Lynx got off to a hot start in the opening quarter of play, reaching a 7-1 lead over the Presidents after the first 15 minutes. Byard scored W&J's first goal of the game off a dish from Phenneger.
 
Rhodes tacked on eight additional goals in the second quarter but were accompanied by three W&J scores. Byard kicked off the scoring for both units off an assist from senior Anna Kloehn (Canton, Ohio/Jackson). Phenneger scored on a free-position attempt to break the Lynx scoring spree at the 8:41 mark. Bolinda netted her second goal of the game with just over five minutes remaining on a power-play opportunity. After surrendering three more goals before the close of the half, W&J entered the break, down 15-4.
 
The Presidents managed to hold Rhodes to three goals in the third quarter, adding two goals to the W&J score. Bogats and Stewart went back-to-back in scoring as they entered the fourth quarter, down 18-6.
 
Allowing only one Lynx goal in the fourth quarter, the Presidents rattled off five consecutive goals to close out the contest, 19-11.
 
The Presidents return to Presidents' Athletic Conference action on Saturday (April 4) as they are set to take on the Allegheny Gators. Opening draw in Meadville is set for a 12:00 p.m. start.