POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Union College women's lacrosse team could not complete a weekend sweep for the second week in a row, as the Dutchwomen dropped a tough 17-14 decision to host Vassar College in Liberty League action on Saturday afternoon at Weinberg Turf Field.
 
Sophomore Sydney McPartlon led Union (2-2, 2-2 Liberty League) with four goals on six shots, while senior Lindsay Gerrato had a team-high five points (three goals, two assists) and also controlled a game-high 11 draws. Senior Isabel Bush, junior Grace Heiting and sophomore Dana Truini all had two goals each as well for the visitors.
 
Vassar (1-1, 1-1 Liberty League) was paced by Alessandra Fable, who scored a game-high seven goals with an assist, and Caeli Porette, who chipped in six goals and two assists.
 
The first-half was a back-and-forth, high-scoring affair, with the two teams combining for 21 goals in 30 minutes. Gerrato scored twice and Heiting added one of her own in the first 10 minutes as the teams played to a three-all tie, but the Brewers countered with four of the next five goals to take a 7-4 lead at the midway point of the opening half.
 
After McPartlon scored to get Union back within two, Vassar again went on a 4-1 mini-run to open up its biggest lead of the game at 11-6 with 6:33 to go. The Dutchwomen scored three of the half's final four goals to get back within three at 12-9, with Heiting, Truini and McPartlon all finding the net.
 
The second stanza featured only a combined 10 goals, as Union was unable to put together a sustained offensive run. McPartlon and first-year Dana Nelson scored back-to-back goals that brought the visitors within two at 16-14 with 5:28 left, but Union could not score on its next possession and a goal by Trina Chou at the other end sealed the game for the home team.
 
Vassar finished the game with a 36-26 edge in shots. Junior Jenna Paszek made 11 saves in goal for Union, while Lauren Johns and Jackie Molloy combined to stop eight shots for Vassar.
 
Union will return home on Friday to host Skidmore College in the front end of a weekend back-to-back starting at 4 p.m.