WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – A late-game comeback came up just short for the Union College men's lacrosse team on Friday night, as the Dutchmen dropped their first game of the year by a 12-11 score to Williams College at Farley-Lamb Field.
Sophomore
Hayden Frey and senior
John Edmonds led Union (4-1) with three points apiece, as Frey scored twice with an assist while Edmonds added a goal and two helpers. Junior
Kerry Lyne and sophomore
Keaton McCann added two goals each for the visitors as well.
Union started the day strong on Friday, scoring four of the game's first five goals. Frey and sophomore
Kieran McGovern gave the Dutchmen an early 2-0 lead, while goals from Frey and junior
Jimmy Connelly started the second quarter to put the visitors up by three 2:40 into the second stanza.
Williams scored three straight to tie the game, but Union still went into the half with a lead thanks to a tally from junior
Michael Sands with 3:46 left. The Dutchmen outshot the Ephs 25-17 over the opening 30 minutes, with eight saves by Harry Gahagan keeping Williams in the game.
The home team scored three of the four goals in the third quarter, setting up a frantic final frame that featured 10 goals – five for each team. The Dutchmen tied the game twice on tallies by Lyne and classmate
Eric Zimm, but Williams scored four goals in less than three minutes to take a 12-9 lead with 3:56 left.
But Union did not go quietly, with goals from McCann and Edmonds getting the Dutchmen back within a goal with 1:02 left. Union won the subsequent faceoff to get a chance to tie, but the visitors could not get a shot off and Williams was able to escape.
The Dutchmen finished the game with a slight 46-43 edge in shots, but the Ephs had a decisive 19-7 edge at the faceoff X to help control the contest. Senior
Jack Santilli made eight saves in a losing effort for Union, while Gahagan turned aside 15 saves to steal the win for Williams.
After a break for finals, Union will return to action next Saturday with the team's Liberty League opener at Skidmore College on March 23.