FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Washington & Jefferson closed on a 6-2 scoring run to knock off the Methodist women's lacrosse team, 16-15, on Sunday afternoon at Monarch Stadium.
 
The Monarchs (5-2) extended an 8-5 lead at halftime to 12-5 with 24:03 to play on an unassisted goal by Cassie Walter before the Presidents (2-1) began their comeback.
 
Caroline Kallos began a 5-0 burst for W&J with a free-position goal at the 23:42 mark, and Holly DeLoache and Alex Dikos each scored before a pair of goals by Ashley Bulger made it 12-10 at the 15:41 mark.
 
Walter stopped the run with her fifth goal of the game at 12:45 to give MU a 13-10 lead, but the Presidents, behind two more goals from Bulger, took a 16-14 lead with 2:15 on the clock.
 
Methodist pulled to within one (16-15) on Maddi Ronelli's free-position goal with 58 seconds to play and had a chance to tie the game in the final moments. Ronelli lost possession of the ball in the W&J crease with under 20 seconds to play and the Presidents picked up the loose ball and ran out the clock for the win.
 
The Monarchs started the contest quickly, taking a 4-0 lead less than six minutes into the game. Sareena Coleman started the scoring just 43 seconds in. Walter scored back-to-back goals and Zhane' Ruffin added a tally for a 4-0 cushion at the 24:16 mark.
 
Washington & Jefferson answered with four successive goals of its own, two each by Kallos and Diana Harvey, to tie the game a 4-4 with 14:26 left in the first half.
 
W&J out shot MU, 31-28, and won 19 draw controls to 14 for the Monarchs. The Presidents also attempted 13 free-position shots, converting eight, while MU was 5-for-5 on free-position shots.
 
Emily Ewin made nine saves for the Monarchs, and Kelsey Roetenberg made eight saves in the cage for W&J.
 
Walter finished with five goals and an assist to lead the Green and Gold. Ronelli and Ruffin each scored three times, and Emily Brennen scored twice. Javen Henry led MU with four ground balls, and Hope Motahari had seven draw controls, while Coleman chipped in four.
 
Bulger had six goals and one assist for W&J. Kallos scored four times, Harvey added three goals and an assist, and Alex Dikos had two goals and two assists. Kallos also had seven draw controls, four ground balls and three caused turnovers.
 
The Monarchs are back at it on Friday when they play at Ferrum beginning at 4:00 pm.