Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Scott Garibaldi (Summit, NJ/Summit) scored with just five seconds remaining to give Union College a 10-9 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Liberty League men’s lacrosse action this afternoon. With the victory, it’s first over RPI in the last 12 years, the Dutchmen improve to 5-1. The Red Hawks are now 6-2 overall seeing their six-game winning streak snapped with the loss.

Holding a 3-2 advantage after the first half of action, Union continued to pressure the homestanding Red Hawks, going up 4-2 at 12:47 of the third quarter on a tally by senior Jon Miller (Yarmouth, ME/Yarmouth).

Back-to-back goals from seniors PJ McComb (Newington, CT/Newington) and Alex MacDiarmid (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) knotted the game at 4-4 with 10:29 remaining in the quarter, but the Dutchmen quickly answered, scoring three goals for a 7-4 lead to begin the fourth stanza.

Rensselaer finally found an answer to the Union defense as it scored three goals to once again tie things up (7-7) with 10:37 remaining. Miller, who had a game-high four goals, pushed the visiting Dutchmen ahead once again just under 30 seconds later, but the Red Hawks didn’t back down, taking their first lead of the game at 3:15 on a goal by senior Mike Sampson (Columbus, OH/Upper Arlington).

The Union offense proved to be too much in the closing minutes of the game as senior Kyle Tilley (Hamilton, MA/Hamilton-Wenham) scored at 2:05, setting up the drama in the closing seconds.

In addition to Miller, the Dutchmen saw Garibaldi finish with two goals and a team-best three assists. Senior Tom Simmons (Salisbury, CT/Salisbury School) added two goals while Tilley also finished with two. Junior Christopher Keinath (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional) finished with five saves in the victory.

For Rensselaer, MacDiarmid had a team-high three goals while sophomore Devin Arnold (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) finished with two goals and an assist. Junior Josh Secora (Evergreen, CO/Golden) added a goal and three assist while three other players recorded a goal. Between the pipes, junior Ryan DeJordy (Albany, NY/Columbia) made nine stops to shoulder the loss.

RPI returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts Liberty League-rival Skidmore College at Harkness Field (4pm). Union is back on the field on Wednesday, hosting Oswego St. (5pm).