The University of Mary Washington women's lacrosse team jumped out to a big lead, nearly lost it, but held on for a 16-14 win at Randolph-Macon College on Wednesday night in Ashland, Va. The Eagles improve to 5-1 on the season.

UMW stormed ahead early, scoring the first three goals of the game. Freshman Holly Hudson scored less than a minute into the game, and was followed by senior Emily Atkinson with 26:50 left and senior Corinne Wiederkehr with 22:30 left.

After a Yellow Jackets goal cut the score to 3-1, the Eagles scored three straight, with Hudson scoring twice and Wiederkehr once to move the lead to 6-1. RMC scored three of the next four goals to move the score to 7-4, but the Eagles closed the half on a 4-1 run to lead, 11-5, at halftime.

Mo Sunderland scored twice to kick off the run, with Atkinson, Ashlyn Dacey, and Wiederkehr scoring as well.

UMW opened the second half with goals from Atkinson and Hudson to assume a 13-5 advantage. Randolph-Macon began to chip away, scoring three straight goals to cut the margin to 13-8, and after UMW's Atkinson and Sabrina Elliott scored, added six straight goals to cut the Eagle lead all they way down to one, at 15-14, with 5:07 remaining in regulation.

The Eagles answered with a big insurance goal from Atkinson with 2:53 remaining, and the final stood at 16-14 in the Eagles' favor.

Shots were tied, 27-27, and the Yellow Jackets led in ground balls, 17-14, and draw controls, 18-14. UMW goalkeeper Taylor Paige had eight saves on the night.

Atkinson led the Eagles with five goals, while Hudson had four goals and two assists and Wiederkehr added three goals.

UMW will return to action on March 18 when they host Catholic University at 4:00 p.m.