SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Eighteen different players recorded at least one point and six Garnet Chargers netted their first collegiate goals in the Union College women's lacrosse team's 20-5 victory over Bard College in the teams' Liberty League opener on Wednesday evening at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.
 
In a game where many players found their way onto the scoresheet, first-year Cecilia Sinopoli led all players with a game-high four points, scoring her first two collegiate goals and adding a pair of assists. Sophomore Christina Guanci and first-year Hannah Compa had three points each with two goals and an assist, while seniors Nicole Turpin and Sarah Murphy chipped in two goals apiece as well. In addition to Sinopoli, senior Ella Trout, sophomore Abbi Uhl and first-years Maddie Greco, Bella Juliano and Lexi Varano all scored their first collegiate goals for Union (2-1, 1-0 Liberty League) in the win.
 
First-year Maddy Schiller opened the scoring on the game's first possession and goals followed soon after by senior Anna Smith and Varano. After over nine minutes without a goal, Union exploded for three goals in 23 seconds later in the frame, with sophomore Lana Mickelson, Murphy and Compa quickly combining to double the Union lead. Two more tallies gave the Garnet Chargers an 8-0 lead after 15 minutes.
 
Union followed with six more goals during a fast-moving second stanza. Tallies from Guanci and Turpin bumped the Union lead up to 10 with 2:35 elapsed in the period. After a goal from senior Audrey Larson midway through the period, Greco, Juliano and Sinopoli all followed with their first collegiate goals to finish the period.
 
Bard (1-4, 0-1 Liberty League) got on the board with 10:19 left in the third period, but Union outscored the Raptors 3-1 the rest of the frame, including the first collegiate point for first-year Dauphine Michel on a Compa tally with 9:01 left.
 
Both teams scored three goals in the fourth quarter, highlighted by the first collegiate goals by Trout and Uhl in the final five minutes of the contest.
 
The Garnet Chargers finished the game with a 38-9 edge in shots and also controlled 20-of-26 draws, led by six draw controls from Compa and four from Varano. Junior Morgan Adams and first-year Paige Long led the defensive effort with three caused turnovers apiece and senior Hannah Dubinsky made one save to earn the win.
 
After taking a break for finals, Union will return to action next Wednesday against Plattsburgh State University beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Frank Bailey Field.