HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Jennifer Zacchigna (East Aurora, NY, East Aurora) and Elizabeth Westwood (Saugerties, NY, Saugerties) each tallied five goals in a back and forth women's lacrosse battle with Wilkes University on Saturday. Despite the strong team effort, the Highlanders came up short in a 19-16 loss on Burke Field.

The Colonels (3-1) were coming off a 2014 campaign in which they finished 13-3 and fielded one of the most high-powered offenses in Division III, averaging more than 18 goals per game.

Houghton opened the scoring just one minute into the game when Tyler Reese (Kennett Square, PA, Unionville) scored off a pass from Zacchigna. After the Colonels tied the score just 40 seconds later, Houghton would tally three of the next four goals to go up 4-2 with 21:57 remaining in the half. But the Colonels high-octane kicked into gear, registered six of the next seven goals to go up 8-5 with just under six minutes to go in the opening 30 minutes. Zacchigna scored her second of the game with 2:29 left and send the home team into the locker room down just 8-6.

The momentum carried over into the second half as the Highlanders put two scores on the board in the first three minutes to tie the game at eight. However, Wilkes scored six of the next seven goals to gain their biggest lead of the contest, 14-9, with just over 22 minutes left. Zacchigna scored again to make it 14-10, and after another goal from the Colonels, Westwood scored three consecutive goals and Ashley Popp (Clarence Center, NY, Akron Central) scored her second of the season to pull Houghton to within a goal (15-14) with 8:01 to play.

The Highlanders had their chances to pull even, but several shots were just off frame. After Wilkes pushed the lead back to two, Zacchigna got her final goal of the afternoon. But Wilkes scored twice within a one minute span -- the second goal coming with 45 seconds left -- to push the margin to three (18-15). The teams exchanged a goal apiece over the final 31 seconds to close the scoring.

Chandler Jones (Collegeville, PA, Spring-Ford) also produced a strong game on the offensive end, with three goals and five assists. Reese added two goals and an assist.

Kourtnie Franklin (Belfast, NY, Belfast ) was impressive in net, recording 16 saves on the afternoon.

The Colonels outshot the Highlanders 48-31.

Houghton (0-3) is back in action on Tuesday, March 17 when they travel to Cazenovia College.