SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College field hockey team scored in the opening minute and rode the momentum the rest of the day to pick up a key 4-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Liberty League action on Sunday afternoon at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.
 
The victory keeps Union (11-4, 4-1 Liberty League) in a tie for first place in the conference standings with two matches remaining in the race for the postseason, while RPI (7-7, 2-3 Liberty League) falls into a four-way tie for fourth place headed into the final conference weekend.
 
Sophomore Maddie Greco recorded a pair of goals to lead the Garnet Chargers, moving into sole possession of eighth place on the school single-season goals list with her 13th and 14th tallies of the year. Junior Megan Dorsey and sophomore Molly Halliday also scored as well for the home team, which picked up its fifth straight victory and fourth conference win in a row.
 
Union came out of the gates flying, getting a goal in the opening minute. First-year Rowan Dapson sent a pass forward from well outside the arc that was tipped home by Halliday just 25 seconds into the contest to put Union ahead early. RPI responded with a tip-in goal of its own from Sophia Brown off a corner attempt to tie the game; however, the home team came back just over two minutes later on Greco's first of the afternoon, one-timing a pass from senior Shaelyn Kelley home 6:51 into the period.
 
Greco created her own opportunity to score in the second period, getting past a defender on the left wing and firing a shot past keeper Tess Garchinsky to double the Union lead to 3-1 in the 19th minute. The Garnet Chargers added to their lead 1:38 before halftime thanks to Dorsey, who took a corner insert from sophomore Reese Fendelet and found a lane through traffic in front of the net for her third goal of the season.
 
Although Union did not score again in the second half, the home team kept up the offensive pressure, outshooting the Engineers by a 10-1 margin and earning a whopping 12 penalty corners over the final 30 minutes of action.
 
Union finished the afternoon with a commanding 18-3 edge in shots and took 17 penalty corners to RPI's 10. Junior Sophie Brady picked up her ninth win of the season and first-year Aislin Devaney made her second defensive save of the year to lead the back line.
 
The Garnet Chargers will close out the conference slate next weekend with two more big matches beginning on Friday at 4 p.m. when Union hosts St. Lawrence University.