SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Senior Greta Maurer and sophomore Gillian Joseph combined for nine goals and four assists to lead the Union College women's lacrosse team to a key 19-11 victory over Skidmore College in Liberty League action on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Wachenheim Field.
 
Joseph led all players with a career-high six goals and added an assist for a season-best seven points, while Maurer had another excellent all-around effort, scoring three goals with three assists to go with eight draw controls, two ground balls and one caused turnover. Juniors Christina Guanci and Maddie Doyle and first-year Stella Del Papa added two goals each and four other Garnet Chargers recorded one goal apiece for Union (7-3, 3-3 Liberty League).
 
Union controlled play for large parts of a back-and-forth opening period, taking 15 shots to Skidmore's six, but the Garnet Chargers only outscored the Thoroughbreds by a 7-5 margin.
 
Maurer controlled the opening draw and got the scoring started for Union on the first possession. The visitors took the first seven shots of the game and added a second goal less than three minutes later from Del Papa off a Maurer assist. The tide turned quickly, however, with Skidmore (5-7, 2-4 Liberty League) scoring on three straight possessions soon after to take its first lead at the midway point of the period. After the teams traded goals, Union ended the frame with a crucial 4-1 run to take back control. Joseph and Doyle scored 57 seconds apart to put Union back in front, and goals by Maurer and sophomore Lexi Varano in the final 90 seconds gave Union back the lead for good.
 
Taking that momentum into the second period, the Garnet Chargers scored on seven of their nine shots and outscored the Thoroughbreds 7-2 in the frame to assume total control. Joseph recorded three goals and an assist to lead the team in the quarter, which was highlighted by goals on five straight possessions. Junior Lana Mickelson ended the frame with her only tally of the game to give Union a 14-7 advantage at the half.
 
Playing with a big lead, Union outscored Skidmore 5-4 in a low-scoring second half to finish off the victory.
 
The Garnet Chargers finished the afternoon with a 35-28 edge in shots. First-year Sierra Harris came off the bench to earn her first collegiate victory in goal for Union, making five saves on 11 shots over the final 45 minutes.
 
Union will return to action next Saturday, when the team celebrates Senior Day before a 3 p.m. matchup with Vassar College at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.