BABSON PARK, Mass. – The #19 Union College men's lacrosse team got its 2025 season underway on Saturday afternoon, falling to #20 Babson College by an 11-9 score at MacDowell Field.
 
Junior Walker Popko led Union (0-1) in his first game in garnet, scoring a game-high four goals and grabbing a pair of ground balls. Senior Archie McEvoy matched Popko for the game high with four points on three goals and an assist, while senior Peter Kip scored twice. Senior Luke McHugh won 12-of-20 faceoffs and grabbed a game-best eight grounders as well for the visitors. 
 
Anthony Stillwell scored a team-best four goals for Babson (2-0), while Tripp Clark led the defensive effort with seven ground balls and four caused turnovers.
 
After more than five minutes of scoreless action, McEvoy opened the scoring with an unassisted tally 5:48 into the game. After a Babson equalizer, Kip put the visitors back up with 5:30 on the clock before the Beavers responded again less than 30 seconds later. Union outshot Babson 12-7 in the opening period.
 
Kip scored his second of the game 2:34 into the second stanza to even the score at three. After two Babson tallies, the Garnet Chargers had their best run of the day with four straight tallies to take a 7-5 lead into the half. Popko scored three of the four goals during the stretch, including one with two seconds left off a pass from first-year Finbar Holland for Holland's first collegiate point and Popko's third goal of the afternoon.
 
Babson outscored Union 4-2 in the third period to set the stage for the final frame. The fourth quarter was the only frame in which Union was outshot, as the Beavers held a 10-4 edge in shots and scored the only two goals to escape with the win.
 
First-year Thomas D'Angelo made eight saves in his collegiate debut for Union, while Alex Fascilla turned aside 15 shots to earn the win for the Beavers. Union outshot Babson by a 40-34 margin, but Fascilla and Andrew Almquist combined for 17 stops for the home team.

Union will return home next Saturday to take on Springfield College beginning at 1 p.m. at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.