After five straight losses to open the season, the GW lacrosse team finally claimed a win Wednesday afternoon with a 15-9 victory over Mount Saint Mary’s University at the Mount Vernon Athletic Complex.

Though the team’s record (1-5) has been poor so far, the Colonials have played an ambitious schedule, including three teams ranked in the top 15 of women’s college lacrosse in the first three games of the season.

And despite the five losses, the squad has had some bright spots. Senior Kristen Karcsh became the second all-time leading point scorer in the program’s seven-year history in last week’s 12-9 loss at Towson and sophomore Mia Breheny scored a career-high five goals in the same contest.

And now, for the first time all season, GW did not struggle, making the win look easy against the Maryland college. The Colonials scored two goals in the first five minutes and never looked back.

The win is likely not a surprise to the program or those who follow the team, as it was the fifth consecutive season GW had defeated the Mountaineers.

But one person who had not experienced the history between the two programs was first-year coach Tara Hannaford, who came to GW from the College of William & Mary. Hannaford, who originally agreed on a post-game interview, refused to comment on the game, as did her players.

Sophomore Mia Breheny scored the first goal of the contest 33 seconds in and tallied three more times during a period when the Colonials scored six straight goals in the first half. GW led at the break, 9-2, but Hannaford told her squad to continue to play tough.

“We still want to push them,” Hannaford said in a halftime huddle.

Midfielder Karsch and junior Katherine Sampson both scored three goals to add to Breheny’s four goals and two assists.

The contest was a stark contrast to last month’s performances. In February, the Colonials nearly upset No. 10 Georgetown at home but were edged out in the second half, losing by one point. Senior goalkeeper Cailtin Garman was awarded Atlantic 10 player of the week following her career-high 18 saves in that game. The following two contests, against No. 9 Johns Hopkins and No. 15 George Mason, were not as close.

The Colonials next face Saint Mary’s (Calif.) March 17 in Moraga, Calif.