NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The Union College field hockey team took a one-goal lead into the fourth period, but SUNY New Paltz scored twice in the first five minutes of the final frame to pull out a 2-1 victory over the Garnet Chargers in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon.
 
First-year Ellie Innes scored the lone goal of the game for Union (6-5) and senior Sophie Brady made 10 saves to keep her team in the game, but the visitors were unable to keep a strong Hawks team off the board for the full 60 minutes.
 
New Paltz had the better of the opportunities for much of the opening half and outshot the visitors by a 10-2 margin, but Union struck just before halftime to take the game's first lead. Some nice passing from first-year Lily Durivage and junior Reese Fendelet found first-year Katelyn Birnbaum by the near post, and she turned around and dished across the crease for Innes to strike home her seventh goal of the season.
 
The third stanza was the most even of the afternoon, with the teams combining for just five shots. Less than two minutes into the fourth, however, Miranda Britton redirected home a pass from the near side to even the score. Britton struck again not even three minutes later with an unassisted tally to put the home team in front.
 
The Garnet Chargers pulled Brady with just under four minutes remaining and had some good pressure on the New Paltz net, requiring a pair of key saves by Gail Comiskey to keep her team in front. However, the tying goal eluded Union and New Paltz escaped with the win.
 
New Paltz ended the game with a 21-6 edge in shots, with Brady's 10 saves and a defensive save by first-year Aislin Devaney limiting the Hawks to two goals. Comiskey was credited with three saves for the home team.
 
Union will return to Liberty League play for the next five matches, beginning on Friday with a cross-river clash at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at 4 p.m.