Box Score

POUGHKEESPIE, NY -- The Union men's lacrosse won a key Liberty League contest, 12-8, at Vassar on Wednesday. The Dutchmen benefited from a 15-9 advantage on face-offs and scored seven straight goals in the second and third periods to pull away from a Vassar team that had held at 5-3 lead..

Union improves to 6-6, 2-3, and hosts RPI on Saturday at 7 p.m., where the Dutchmen will need a win and some help to qualify for the league playoffs. Vassar goes to 4-9 and 0-6 in the league.

Vassar gave a large home crowd hope for its first league win when freshman midfielder Jeff Lee scored with 9:56 to play in the second period, making the score 5-3. But the combination of junior attack Andrew Higgins and sophomore attack Brendan Kinnane quickly took over for Union. Higgins contributed three of the seven consecutive Dutchmen goals, with two of those served up by Kinnane. Kinnane also assisted on Higgins fifth and final goal of the game, early in the fourth period.

Sophomore attack Ian Hunter, freshman midfielder Will Mahony, freshman attack Ethan Meyer and senior midfielder Matthew Douglas also scored for Union during the unanswered run. Union won 8 of 9 face-offs in the second period and the Brewers were unable to grab ball possession and stop the Union scoring attack.

Vassar attempted to fight back in the second half as junior midfielder Nick Cardillo scored on a great shot from outside at 5:27 left in the third. Senior midfielder Isaac Krull also scored under pressure with just over six minutes to play to cut the Union lead to 11-7, but Vassar was unable to cut into the Union lead much further. Vassar sophomore defender Zach Beauchamp made a rare foray into the attacking zone and scored his first career goal with 3:34 to play. His goal capped the scoring at 12-8.

With two goals and an assist, Cardillo was the star in the first quarter as Vassar took a 3-2 lead. Sophomore attack Sam Thypin-Bermeo also scored for the Brewers with 28 seconds remaining in the period. After Union's Higgins scored on the power play, the Dutchmen appeared to take a 2-0 lead, but Douglas' goal was disallowed for having an illegal stick. Junior attack Christopher Jacobson also scored for Union in the first period.

Vassar junior goaltender Ed Pappo replaced starter Alex Tice in the second half and turned in a fantastic performance with 10 saves. With 2:24 to play in the third quarter he made a point-blank save on Higgins, who was open at the left post. He also made a fantastic power play save with 8:14 left in the fourth.

Union senior goaltender Christopher Keinath made six saves for the Dutchmen. Union out-shot the Brewers 28-27, and led 37-32 on ground balls. A physical match saw 9 penalties called on Vassar and 5 assessed to Union.