SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Senior Anna Smith scored the game-winning goal with 11 seconds left in regulation as the Union College women's lacrosse team outscored Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 5-1 in the fourth quarter to pull out a thrilling 9-8 Liberty League victory on Wednesday night at ECAV Stadium.
 
With its fifth straight victory, Union (9-4, 7-2 Liberty League) clinches the third seed in the upcoming Liberty League Tournament with one conference game remaining and will host a first-round game on Tuesday. Rensselaer (6-6, 5-4 Liberty League) falls into a tie for fifth place in the conference standings with the loss.
 
Smith went over 58 minutes without a goal on Wednesday, but made it count in the final minutes with a pair of crease-dodge tallies. After sophomore Lana Mickelson caused a turnover, Union moved the ball down the field and Smith found the net with 1:33 remaining to tie the score at eight. RPI controlled the ensuing draw but turned the ball over to give Union one last possession, and Smith took advantage with a nearly identical tally that gave the visitors their first lead since 4:20 into the game.
 
First-year Gillian Joseph led Union with a team-best three goals, while junior Greta Maurer tied for the game-high with four points on a goal and three assists.
 
Rensselaer had the largest lead of the night at 7-3 after Megan Shay's fourth goal of the game with 5:43 left in the third quarter; however, the Union defense limited RPI to one goal over the final 19:16 to pull off the stunning comeback win.
 
Joseph started the comeback late in the third quarter with a huge player-down goal, taking a feed from Maurer and depositing her second of the game with 2:08 left. Maurer got the visitors closer with a free-position strike 3:05 into the fourth frame, but RPI got that back to take an 8-5 lead with 8:13 on the clock. The momentum swung soon after with two goals in 16 seconds for the Garnet Chargers, first by Joseph from the eight-meter arc and then by first-year Lexi Varano, to get back within one and set up the late-game heroics.
 
Union outshot RPI 28-24 and got nine big saves from sophomore Sydney Widlitz to help secure the win. Mickelson led a spirited defensive effort with two ground balls, two caused turnovers and two draw controls to go with a goal.
 
Union will return home to end the regular season with two games this weekend, beginning on Friday at 4 p.m. against St. John Fisher College.