SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - The Union College men's soccer team was done in by a rough start to the second half on Tuesday afternoon, as Wheaton (Mass.) College, ranked 10th in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division III National Poll, scored three times in seven minutes to pull out a 3-0 victory over the Garnet Chargers in a non-conference match at College Park Field.

Union (4-5-4) had the better of the possession to start the first half, keeping the Lyons pinned in their defensive end for much of the first 20 minutes. Shots by sophomores Nate Langlois and Eamonn Kelley tested Wheaton keeper Nick Phinney early, but the game remained scoreless.

Wheaton (10-0-3) started to establish possession around the midway point of the frame, with senior Jacob Perry reaching out his left hand to make an excellent stop in the 21st minute and deny Gael Vera the opening goal. The home team caught another break in the 36th minute when a Wheaton goal was called back for offsides. After Union's two initial shots, the Lyons took the final six attempts of the opening half as the teams went into halftime scoreless.

A span of 7:02 to start the second half proved to be the undoing of the Garnet Chargers, as the Lyons scored three times to quickly establish an advantage. Less than two minutes into the period, an Aidan Doyle corner was headed home by Kevin Morse to put the visitors ahead. At the 50:00 mark, Doyle's throughball sprung Vera for a scoring chance that he slotted past Perry to double the lead. Just over two minutes later, Doyle added his third assist when his cross found Joey Everett at the back post for a goal.

Wheaton finished the match with a 14-3 edge in shots. Perry made five saves in 64:24 minutes of action, while sophomore Dmitri Wild-Arons had one stop over the final 25:36.

Union will get back into Liberty League play on Saturday with a 2 p.m. matchup against Ithaca College at College Park Field, the first of four conference clashes to end the regular season.