SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) women's lacrosse team saw their postseason run end in the Liberty League opening round Tuesday evening, as they fell to the Union Dutchwomen by a final score of 12-11 at Frank Bailey Field at Bertagna-Class of 1985 Stadium.
 
RPI presumably ends their season with an 11-5 overall record while Union improves to 11-5 and moves on to the Liberty League semifinals Friday against top-seeded William Smith.
 
Megan Shay wasted no time getting RPI on the board, collecting the game's opening goal just 35 seconds into the game after Rylie Maready won the opening draw. Less than a minute later, Ella Graff made it 2-0 in favor of the Engineers.
 
Union responded with a pair of goals of their own that led to a 4-0 run and a 6-4 lead by the end of the first quarter. Union continued to lead through the second quarter, as they outscored the Engineers 3-1 in the second frame to take a 9-5 lead into the half.
 
However, Shay's goal with 4:03 to play in the second quarter began a run for the Engineers as they pulled within two at 9-7 with 11:32 to go in the third. After Sydney McPartion scored to bring Union's lead to 10-7, Lauren DeLeo and Shay went back-to-back to make it a one-goal game heading into the fourth quarter, 10-9.
 
Things stayed status quo through the start of the final frame, until both sides traded goals at two points in the quarter. Union brought their lead back to two twice, with Maready answering on the free position with 7:42 remaining. Union did it again with 3:59 to play as Dana Nelson scored before Shay once again put RPI within a goal with 2:11 to play.
 
The Engineers got the ball back with 33 seconds to play after forcing a Union shot clock violation, but a shot from Molly McDonald was saved by Sydney Widlitz in the final seconds to send Union home with the win.
 
Shay led all scorers on the night with six goals for the Engineers, while DeLeo scored twice. Graff, Maready, and Gabbie Valle each had one goal apiece, with Maready and Quinn Wollard adding assists. Olivia Kimball finished the game with 10 saves in the cage.
 
McPartlon finished with four goals for Union, while Nelson, Drew Charlton, and Dana Truini each added two goals apiece. McPartlon added an asst for a five-point evening, while Charlton added four assists for a four-point game. Widlitz finished the game with 13 saves in the win in cage for the Dutchwomen.