SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Junior Peter Kip single-handedly matched Williams College's scoring output and #5/6 Union College stepped up defensively and at the X to pull away with a 12-4 victory in a non-conference battle on Wednesday night at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.
 
Union (4-0) received contributions from players up and down the lineup in the win. Offensively, Kip matched his career high with four goals on seven shots, while junior Zach Davis recorded a game- and career-high five points with two goals and three assists. Senior Peter Burnes added two goals, an assist, two caused turnovers and four ground balls on the offensive side of the field as well.
 
Junior Matthew Paolatto set the tone at the X for Union, winning 13-of-15 faceoffs and grabbing 12 ground balls. Combined with a 3-for-4 effort effort from sophomore Luke McHugh, the home team won 16-of-19 draws to keep the pressure on the Ephs defense from the very start.
 
First-year John Sula led the defensive effort with four ground balls and three caused turnovers.
 
Union trailed for the first time all season after Spencer Goodbar scored the first of his two goals on the day to put the Ephs up 2:44 into the contest. But Union settled down defensively, forcing a shot-clock violation and four turnovers on the next five possessions. Meanwhile, Davis scored his fourth of the year to tie the score with 5:46 left and junior Justin Greene put Union ahead 65 seconds later.
 
Despite Williams tying the score late in the first period, Union took control by outscoring the Ephs 5-1 in the second stanza. Burnes and Kip found the net twice each in the period, while Davis had a goal and an assist and Greene picked up a pair of helpers. Thanks to a 14-7 edge in shots, the home team took a 7-3 lead into the half.
 
Williams regained some momentum early in the third quarter, killing off a 6-on-5 penalty and then a 6-on-4 situation soon after, and following up with a Pierce Glavin goal to get back within three. However, sophomore Matt Blasi came up with a big goal soon after off a feed by classmate Archie McEvoy, and the defense forced four turnovers and got three saves from junior Dan Donahue to keep Williams off the board.
 
It was more of the same in the fourth quarter, as Donahue made a save on four straight Williams possessions and the offense came back alive with four unanswered goals to close out the contest. Kip scored twice for the home team in the final frame, while McAvoy netted his first collegiate goal and junior Michael Shaw scored as well.
 
For the game, Union outshot Williams by a 50-30 margin and grabbed 44 ground balls to Williams' 25. Donahue finished the game with 11 stops, while Matthew Freitas turned aside 16 shots for the Ephs.
 
Union will play its final game before taking a break for finals on Saturday, when the team welcomes Emerson College to Frank Bailey Field for a 1 p.m. matchup.