ITHACA, N.Y. – Junior Maddy Schiller scored her fourth tally of the game 2:15 into overtime to lead the Union College women's lacrosse team to a thrilling 13-12 (OT) comeback victory over Ithaca College in a key Liberty League matchup on Saturday afternoon at Higgins Stadium.
 
Schiller tied for the game-high with her four tallies and she was matched with four points by seniors Christina Guanci (three goals, one assist) and Lana Mickelson (four assists). Junior Gillian Joseph chipped in three goals while senior Maddie Doyle had two and junior Hannah Compa added one as well for Union (3-4, 2-0 Liberty League).
 
On the defensive end, senior Claudia Patz recorded a game-high five ground balls and classmate Sydney Widlitz made seven saves to earn the win.
 
Schiller's game-winner capped a 4-1 run on which Union ended the game. Down by two at 11-9 with 7:30 left, Schiller got the visitors back within a goal less than a minute later and, after a strong defensive possession that resulted in a shot-clock violation, Doyle knotted the score at 11 with 2:57 to go. Widlitz and counterpart Mikaela Dattilo both made saves to keep the game tied before Guanci seemingly netted the game-winner with 19 seconds left, only for Ithaca's Leigh Naturale to beat the buzzer and send the game to overtime.
 
The Bombers had all the momentum after the last-second goal and controlling the first possession of overtime, but Widlitz came up with a huge stop to keep the game going. Patz picked up the ground ball and the Garnet Chargers put together an excellent offensive possession, getting two good looks on goal – and, just as importantly, the subsequent ground balls – to eventually set up Schiller for the game-winner.
 
Union led for just over two minutes for the entirety of regulation, but the Garnet Chargers scored key goals all afternoon long to remain within striking distance and have the ability to eventually mount a late comeback. Joseph scored on the game's opening possession to put Union in front first but Ithaca (6-3, 3-2 Liberty League) scored on its next two possessions and Union could not regain the lead until the final half-minute. The visitors tied the score on five occasions before Guanci's go-ahead tally, coming back from a three-goal deficit in the first half and a pair of two-goal margins in the second half.
 
Ithaca took 32 shots to Union's 30 in the evenly matched contest, with Union holding a 24-19 edge in on-target attempts.
 
Union will look to keep the momentum going next weekend, when they host the North Country tandem of St. Lawrence University and Clarkson University on Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m., respectively.