SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's lacrosse team outscored IWLCA #16 Ithaca College by a 6-1 score in a pivotal second period and played the Bombers even the rest of the way to pull out a 12-10 victory in Liberty League action on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.
 
Senior Greta Maurer had three points in the second stanza and finished with a game-high six on four goals and two assists while also controlling five draws and grabbing two ground balls for Union (6-2, 2-2 Liberty League). Sophomore Gillian Joseph also had three in the period and finished the game with five points on three goals and two helpers. First-year Stella Del Papa added a game-high three caused turnovers and junior Maddie Doyle chipped in a goal, three grounders and three draw controls.
 
Elizabeth Green scored a team-leading three goals and had four ground balls for Ithaca (5-3, 2-1 Liberty League).
 
Joseph opened the scoring for Union 2:36 into the contest with her 18th of the season, but the rest of the opening period belonged to the Bombers, who scored five of the next six to take a 5-2 lead after 15 minutes. But after losing five of the first eight draws of the afternoon, the Garnet Chargers controlled all 12 draws over the next two quarters and 14 of the final 17 overall to allow for a comeback attempt.
 
The game flipped dramatically in the second period, which saw Union score six of the seven goals and win all seven draws to take control for the first time. Maurer and junior Lana Mickelson scored 86 seconds apart to get the home team back within one with 10 minutes left. After nearly five minutes of scoreless play, the Garnet Chargers scored three times in 96 seconds to take back the lead. Joseph started off the run with 5:11 on the clock, followed by goals from Maurer 19 seconds later and Doyle 1:17 after that to put the score at 7-5. After the Bombers got one back, sophomore Maddy Schiller found the net off a pass from Joseph with 25 seconds left to take an 8-6 lead into halftime.
 
In both the final two frames, Ithaca scored twice to tie the game, only to have Union respond with the next two. The Bombers tied the score at the midway point of the third on goals by Lexi Kellish and Hayley Armstrong, but the defense allowed only one on-target shot for the remainder of the frame. That allowed goals by Maurer and sophomore Maddie Greco in the final two minutes to give Union a two-goal lead after 45 minutes.
 
The visitors scored twice in the first three minutes of the fourth to even the score, but again Union had an answer, as Joseph scored on the next possession to immediately regain the lead. The defense locked down the Ithaca offense after that, allowing only one on-target shot and forcing three of the Bombers' five turnovers the rest of the way. Mickelson ended a prolonged possession with a key insurance goal with 6:13 left, and junior Sydney Widlitz made one key stop to preserve the win.
 
The teams finished even at 23 spots apiece on the afternoon, but the Union ride forced Ithaca into a 13-of-24 effort on clear attempts and the Garnet Chargers boasted a 17-8 edge at the draw circle. Widlitz finished the afternoon with six saves to earn the win, while Mikaela Dattilo and Jocelyn Cote split time for Ithaca and combined for eight stops.
 
Union will look to keep its momentum going on Wednesday with a battle against local rival Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Frank Bailey Field beginning at 6 p.m.