SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College men's soccer team came back from a pair of one-goal deficits, but UMass Boston scored the game-winning tally with less than two minutes remaining and the Garnet Chargers ran out of time in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss on Sunday afternoon at College Park Field.
 
Senior Luca Richo and first-year Declan Crowley both scored for Union (1-2-1) on the afternoon, but a pair of Ryan Lima goals helped lift UMass Boston (4-1-0) to the win.
 
The Beacons got on the board first thanks to a lucky bounce in the 26th minute. Gabriel Meireles made a move to create space near the top of the 18-yard box, and his shot caromed off the shin of a Union defender and into the near corner for a goal.
 
The Garnet Chargers evened the score in the 37th minute, thanks to a great strike from Crowley. A free kick by Richo was headed away from goal right to a waiting Crowley at the top of the box, and after one touch he struck the ball through traffic into the right-side netting for his first collegiate tally.
 
Both teams put two shots on target in the opening 45 minutes, with both JJ Devine and senior Sean Speck making one save apiece.
 
The game opened up considerably in the second half, however, as the teams combined for 20 shots and the two keepers made a combined nine saves.
 
The Beacons took the lead once again in the 64th minute, when Luan Cruz played a long ball forward to John Arruda. Arruda lofted the ball over an onrushing Speck toward an empty net, where Rian Lima tapped it in for the go-ahead goal.
 
But again Union had a response, this time off the foot of Richo in the 73rd minute. After classmate Kurt Mahlke was fouled in the middle of the field 22 yards from goal, Richo stepped up and slotted the ball inside the left post just past the diving hands of Devine to knot the score at two.
 
Union continued to apply tremendous pressure on the Boston defense after Richo's tally, earning several quality chances and forcing Devine to make at least three diving stops to keep the match even. However, the Garnet Chargers were unable to get the elusive third goal and it came back to haunt them when Lima scored his second of the game on an indirect free kick from the top of the box in the 89th minute.
 
Union finished the afternoon with a 13-12 edge in shots. Devine made seven saves to earn the win, while Speck stopped four shots for the home team.
 
Union will remain at home for another non-conference match against Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at College Park Field.