SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Union opened the home season Tuesday against the defending NCAA Div. III champions, and Middlebury was a 17-5 victor over the Dutchwomen in a non-league lacrosse contest.

Three players scored four goals each for the Panthers, who improved to 4-1 on the season. Kim Walker (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood), Claire Edelen (Sparks, MD/St. Paul's) and Elizabeth Renehan (St. David's, PA/Radnor) each scored four times for Middlebury.

Union, which now stands 1-3, was led by Molly Flanagan (Simsbury, CT/Loomis Chaffee). This week's Liberty League Co-Performer of the Week scored two goals for the Dutchwomen, giving her 13 on the season.

Middlebury jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 3:30 elapsed in the first half. But the Dutchwomen pulled to within on on a goal by Erin Lawson (Flourtown, PA/Springside) at 23:07, and a tally by Alexandra Toney (Bayville/Locust Valley) with 20:18 remaining in the first stanza. But Middlebury took an 11-2 lead by halftime.

Kathy Dolezal (Clearwater, FL/Williston Northampton) also scored for Union, while Alison Perencevich (Concord, NH/Concord added two tallies for Middlebury.

Rachel Beckman (Needham, MA/Needham) made nine saves for Union while Johanna Rosenfield (Brunswick, ME/Wayne Flete) stopped six for the Panthers. Middlebury had a 36-19 shot advantage and a 19-17 ground balls advantage in the contest.

Union returns to action Friday at St. Lawrence for a 4 p.m. Liberty League game.