Video Highlights

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Junior Kerry Lyne scored five times while senior Jack Santilli made 15 big saves in addition to scoring his first collegiate goal as #12 Union College defeated #19 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by a 13-8 score in the semifinals of the Liberty League Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.

With the win, Union (13-2) advances to its sixth Liberty League championship game, where the second-seeded Dutchmen will face off with top-seeded and USILA #1 Rochester Institute of Technology on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Rochester.
 
Lyne had a big game offensively to lead Union, scoring five times on eight shots to lead all scorers and also move within two goals of 100 for his career. Senior John Edmonds added two goals and two assists, while sophomore Hayden Frey added three goals and a helper as well.
 
Senior Alex Newhouse won 15-of-19 faceoffs and grabbed a team-best nine ground balls, while junior Edward Winters led another stout defensive effort with three caused turnovers. The backbone of the defense was Santilli, who made 15 saves and also beat the 10-man ride with his first collegiate goal from 60 yards away.
 
The Dutchmen dominated the Engineers in the opening 30 minutes, scoring nine unanswered goals and posting a 25-9 edge in total shots to build up a huge lead. Sophomore Keaton McCann opened the scoring on the first possession of the game, followed two minutes later by a tally from senior Jack Sullivan and two from Lyne that put Union up 4-0 after one quarter.
 
Union added five more goals to the ledger in the second quarter to run its lead to 9-0, with Frey and Lyne adding two goals apiece and Edmonds scoring once and assisting on two others.
 
RPI made its run in the third quarter, scoring five straight goals to get back within four at 9-5 with 3:57 remaining, but Santilli denied JT Kelly on the next possession and Lyne scored with 28 seconds left to stem the tide and put the home team up 10-5 headed into the fourth.
 
Santilli started the fourth with the first goal of his career, firing a missile from 60 yards away into an empty net that fired up the crowd and continued the Dutchmen's momentum.

??GOALIE GOAL ALERT!??
What's better than beating your rival in the conference tourney? When your goalie makes 15 saves and ALSO SCORES A GOAL! Jack Santilli from 60 yards away!#GoU #NCAAlax #NCAATop10 #SCTop10@UnionCollege @ESPNAssignDesk @NCAALAX @LLAthletics @UnionMLacrosse pic.twitter.com/MxkvFT1V6q

— Union Athletics (@UnionAthletics) May 2, 2019

Goals by Edmonds and Frey later in the quarter helped to put the game away for Union and secure a berth in the conference title game for the first time since 2015.
 
The Dutchmen will head to Rochester on Saturday for a rematch with the top-ranked Tigers beginning at 1 p.m. Check UnionAthletics.com later in the week for more information on the matchup.