SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - First-year Noah Goldstein delivered his first collegiate goal in massive fashion Friday evening, potting the game-winner in Union's 2-1 victory over Ithaca.
 
Right before the turn of the 67th minute, Union set up for their third consecutive corner kick, after Ithaca punted dangerous chances in their own goalie box away to force the Garnet Chargers to reset. The third one came from the far corner off the left foot of sophomore Lucas Montalto, and junior Wyatt Goldfisher's header went to the middle of the goalie box as he met the Ithaca goalkeeper at the top of his header that prevented him from scoring. Goldstein took a couple of shuffles to his right, and sent a header of his own over the goalline, punched into the back of the net by an Ithaca defender in a last-ditch effort to keep the game tied.
 
All three of the game's goals came off of set pieces. Ithaca knotted the game less than eight minutes before Goldstein's winner, as Brendan Lebitsch scored off a Bombers corner kick for his first goal of the year.
 
Three minutes before halftime, senior Kurt Mahlke broke open the scoring with his second goal of the year. Off another far side corner kick from the left foot of Montalto, senior Christian Rufo sent a header on net that was punched back by the Ithaca goalkeeper. Mahlke made a quick lunge with his left foot to put the ball at his feet, and put a right-footed strike into the back of the net to give the Garnet Chargers the lead.
 
On the other end, first-year goalkeeper Paul Agne had his most impressive game to date. Besides allowing the goal off the corner he wasn't given much of a chance to prevent, the Amsterdam, Netherlands native crushed his previous season- and career-high of five saves, stopping eight shots- a number of those in crucial moments in high-scoring areas- en route to his seventh victory.
 
Montalto's two assists account for his first two collegiate helpers after scoring his first two goals for the Garnet earlier this year. Goldfisher now sits second on the team with 10 points.
 
The win over Ithaca gives the program their first victory against the Bombers in almost 32 years (November 10th, 1991), and their first in Schenectady since the two's first ever meeting, almost 38 years ago (November 10th, 1985). The victory also breaks Union's seven match losing streak to Ithaca, which dated back to October 19th, 2002, and gives the Garnet Chargers their first four match win streak since the beginning of the 2019 season.
 
Union (7-4-2, 4-0-0) now holds sole possession of second place in the Liberty League after beating Ithaca and St. Lawrence's loss to Vassar. The Garnet Chargers sit one point behind first-place Hobart, after their loss to Rensselaer Friday, for the top spot in the league, and the two teams will meet Saturday at College Park Field for what is set to be the game of the year so far in the conference. Kickoff is set to go at 2:00 PM.