CANTON, NY -- The St. Lawrence University football team dropped its 2012 Liberty League opener on Saturday, as Union College's Kyle Reynolds scored three touchdowns en route to a 31-20 victory for the Dutchmen at Leckonby Stadium in Canton, NY.

Union, which closed with a 383-288 advantage in total offense, improves to 1-3 (1-0) while St. Lawrence falls to 0-4 (0-1) after committing three turnovers in the final game of a three-game home stand.

Union quarterback Connor Eck finished 15-of-24 passing for 166 yards and three scores, while St. Lawrence starter Zane Fish was 14-of-23 for 123 yards but was picked off three times. Junior Mike Tateosian was the game's leading receiver, as he caught six balls for 94 yards and a score. Tim Hersey rushed for 80 yards on nine carries to lead Union's run game, while first-year students Maurice Irby and Miles Crump each hand rushing touchdowns for St. Lawrence.

Union held a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter thanks to a Tosin Kazeem field goal, but saw the home team take its only lead of the contest with 36 seconds left in the frame. Crump showed his speed from 16 yards out on a reverse as he raced to the pile on and scored his second touchdown of the season. Chris Dris' extra point try failed, keeping the score at 6-3 after the opening quarter.

St. Lawrence had momentum after stopping Union on the ensuing drive and reached the Union 39-yard line, but Fish was intercepted by Jajar Johnson and returned back to the St. Lawrence 30. Five plays later, Union's T.J. Franzese scored from seven yards out for a 9-6 Dutchmen lead. Kazeem's extra point made it 10-6 with 3:48 left in the half.

Johnson and the Union defense would help the visitors pad the lead before intermission, though, as he intercepted Fish again. Eck and the offense would then march 62 yards in the two minute drill, capping the touchdown drive with an easy completion to Reynolds with under :03 seconds remaining in the half. Kazeem gave Union a 17-6 lead thanks to the extra point.

Eck would again orchestrate a touchdown drive on Union's opening possession of the second half to push the lead to 24-6, finding Reynolds from eight yards out. However, St. Lawrence would respond on the next drive, going 80 yards in eight plays to keep itself in the contest. Irby would cap the drive with an impressive burst, rushing to the outside and beating the Union defense to the end zone for a 26-yard score. Dris' extra point was good, keeping St. Lawrence within two scores at 24-13.

Union refused to budge, and used a 14-play, 68-yard drive to put the game away. The Dutchmen converted two fourth down chances, then celebrated as Eck found Reynolds for his third and final score with 2:39 left in the third quarter. Kazeem's point after made it 31-13 after three.

St. Lawrence was unable to rally in the fourth, as they turned it over on downs and Fish was picked by Alex Macchio. Sophomore quarterback Danny Metzgar entered the game on the Saints final drive, and looked sharp, completing 8-of-10 passes including an impressive 23-yard strike to Tateosian in the end zone with under :04 seconds left. Dris' extra point capped the scoring with Union on top 31-20.

Defensively, first-year student Tucker Stone led all players with nine tackles in his first collegiate start for the Scarlet and Brown while Andrew Cox, Oraene Morgan and Leondre Simmon each added eight tackles. Brian Daley's seven tackles led Union's effort, while Bill Meile had a game-high 2.0 sacks.

Union returns home to host new Liberty League affiliate member Springfield College Saturday, September 29 at 6 p.m. at Frank Bailey Field.