SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College men's lacrosse team was outscored by a 6-2 margin after halftime to suffer a 14-8 defeat to USILA #5 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Liberty League action on Saturday afternoon at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.
 
Senior Peter Kip tied for the game-high with three goals and four points for Union (3-8, 1-3 Liberty League), while five Garnet Chargers added one goal apiece. Cooper Roman led Rensselaer (12-1, 4-1 Liberty League) with three goals and an assist as well.
 
The Engineers jumped out to an early lead by scoring four of the first quarter's five goals while firing 20 shots toward the Union net. The home team weathered the opening storm and got back within a goal on two occasions, coming after first-year Finbar Holland made the score 4-3 with 3:02 gone by in the second and then again after Kip scored twice in six seconds to put Union down one at 7-6 with 3:55 on the clock.
 
However, Tyler Ruffini scored 34 seconds after Kip's second goal to kill the Union momentum, and the Engineers outscored the Garnet Chargers by four the rest of the way. A tally by senior Hazen Pike with 13:26 left in the fourth brought Union back within two, but RPI scored the final four goals of the contest to close out the win.
 
Both teams had plenty of scoring opportunities on the day, as RPI took 55 shots to Union's 46. As a result, both goalies were busy on the afternoon, with Union sophomore Nick Lynch making 18 saves and RPI's Joseph Perry turning aside 19 shots.
 
Union will head onto the road for its next two games, beginning on Wednesday with an important matchup at Skidmore College starting at 5 p.m.