SCHENECTADY, N.Y.- The ninth-ranked Union College men's lacrosse team held on to defeat #5 Cortland 14-13 in the 2014-15 season opener on Saturday afternoon from Frank Bailey Field.

Sophomore Peter Richardson and junior Nolan Stauffer both found the back of the cage four times to lead the Dutchmen in the scoring column. Senior goalie Stefan Basile made 12 saves between the pipes for Union.

The Dutchmen got off to a solid start, jumping out to a 5-1 lead behind two Stauffer tallies in the first quarter. The Red Dragons answered with a 4-1 stretch to cut the Union lead to 6-5 before Richardson scored his second goal of the game to give the Garnet a 7-5 advtange at the half.

Charlie Ross made it 8-5 Dutchmen just 20 seconds into the second half. However, Cortland responded with two goals later in the quarter to make it 8-7 heading into the fourth.

Union and Cortland traded barbs through the first five minutes of the final quarter and with nine minutes remaining the score was knotted up at 10-10. Over the next 5:35, the Dutchmen outscored the Red Dragons 4-1 on two goals from Stauffer and a goal a piece from Richard Gregory and Richardson.

In the final minute of play, Cortland cut the Union lead to 14-13 with two goals just thirty seconds a part. Connor Hall sealed the victory for the Dutchmen though as the senior won the crucial faceoff with 13 seconds remaining and was able to run off the closing seconds to give Union their first win of the season.

Senior Adam Sands had a team-high nine groundballs. Adam Johnson picked up five while Alex D'mario had four of his own. Johnson, Hall and Lance Lonergan Jr. all had two caused turnovers a piece to lead the Dutchmen.

Union will be back in action this Wednesday night as they host SUNY-Oneonta. The opening faceoff from Frank Bailey Field is scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm.