TROY, N.Y. – Junior Katie Talacci and sophomore Cristina Boudreau scored less than five minutes apart in the second quarter and the Union College defense did the rest as the Dutchwomen picked up a 2-1 victory at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Saturday afternoon.
 
The win is a key one in the standings for Union (5-6, 1-2 Liberty League), who pick up their first conference victory of the season and second straight win overall. RPI falls to 0-12 (0-3 Liberty League) with the defeat.
 
Neither team found the net in the opening quarter, as junior Mary Beth Rudolf made one stop and freshman Jill Bove picked up her second defensive save of the year to keep the Engineers off the scoreboard.
 
But Union made the decisive blow in the second stanza, scoring twice in 4:48 to take control of the contest. Talacci opened the scoring with her fourth goal of the year in the 23rd minute off a pass from senior Charlotte Leyland, and then Talacci did the assisting on Boudreau's first collegiate tally in the 27th minute.
 
RPI came out strong in the third quarter, getting one goal back in the 40th minute and adding three more shots and four penalty corners, but the Dutchwoman defense stood tall and didn't allow a shot on goal. Union continued its strong defensive effort in the fourth frame, limiting RPI to only three off-target attempts (two wide, one blocked) in preserving the victory.
 
Rudolf was called on to make two saves in picking up the victory. RPI finished with a 17-11 edge in total shots, but only four of those shots made it on goal.
 
Union will look to keep the momentum going on Friday, when the Dutchwomen go for a third straight win at St. Lawrence University starting at 4 p.m.