TROY, N.Y. - Senior Maggie Comiskey recorded five of her game-high six points in the first half to lead the Union College women's lacrosse team to a 10-6 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the Liberty League opener for both schools on Friday. With the win, the Dutchwomen improve to 4-2 on the year (1-0 Liberty League), while the Engineers drop to 4-3 (0-1 Liberty League).
Comiskey (Garden City, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) had two goals and a game-best four assists to pace Union offensively. Junior Jackie Hagopian (Wakefield, RI/The Gunnery) registered three goals, while sophomore Cailin Pandolfi (Longmeadow, MA/Longmeadow) and junior Natalie Sullivan (Byfield, MA/Governor's Academy) had two apiece.
Rensselaer was led by senior
Mackenzie O'Neil (Duxbury, MA/Milton Academy), who had three goals and one assist. Classmate
Erin DeLucca (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme) had two goals, while junior
Sophie Hager (Northport, NY/Northport) notched a goal and an assist.
Union broke the scoreless tie nine minutes into the game, when Comiskey found Pandolfi streaking to the net for her 10th goal of the year.Â
The hosts answered with a man-up goal at 11:11, as O'Neil worked a pass in front of goal to DeLucca, tying the game at 1-1. On the ensuing possession, the Engineers appeared to have taken the lead, but a crease violation negated the go-ahead tally.
Over 10 minutes of scoreless play followed, but Union finally snapped the drought at 21:19, on the first of Comiskey's two tallies on the day.
Union concluded the half with a 5-0 run to take a 6-1 lead into the break. The Dutchwomen held a 14-6 edge in shots after 30 minutes as well.
RPI came out firing in the second half, scoring four straight goals to pull within 7-5 with 21:16 to play. O'Neil ignited the run with the first two markers, before DeLucca and Hager followed suit.Â
Hagopian ended the run with an unassisted goal at 13:47 and then answered another O'Neil goal to keep the Dutchwomen up three (9-6) with 13:17 left.
Pandolfi then capped the scoring with 12:37 to play, as Union was able to run valuable time off the clock down the stretch.Â
Junior goalkeeper Jen Hughes (Wolfeboro, NH/Brewster Academy) earned the win in goal, recording three saves, while RPI freshman
Rebecca Wilen had four stops at the other end of the field.
RPI is back in action tomorrow afternoon, when it hosts William Smith (2pm). Union visits Skidmore tomorrow (2pm).