The Union men’s lacrosse team is having a stellar season with a 9-2 record and a 3-1 standing in the Liberty League. Their next match is scheduled for 1 p.m. this Saturday at RPI.
For more details about the team’s roster, schedule, and statistics, click on the provided links.
Here’s a detailed recap of the Garnet Chargers’ 2024 season, game by game.
GAME 11: UNION 15, SKIDMORE 8
Details: The game took place on April 10 at Frank Bailey Field.
Summary: The Garnet Chargers started strong with a 4-1 lead after the first quarter. Skidmore managed to tie the game at 5 just before halftime, but Union bounced back with seven consecutive goals in the second half. Skidmore’s Brian Gonsalves scored four goals and assisted two, while Peter Kip was the top scorer for Union with three goals and three assists. Michael Shaw also contributed with three goals and one assist. Matthew Paolatto dominated the faceoffs, winning 20 out of 23, and picked up 16 ground balls.
Noteworthy Stat: Earlier in the week, Union moved up one spot in the USILA poll to No. 7, making it one of the four Liberty League teams in the top seven of Division III.
Record: 3-1 conference, 9-2 overall.
GAME 10: UNION 12, ITHACA 7
Details: The game was held on April 6 at Frank Bailey Field.
Summary: Union took an early 3-0 lead, which Ithaca narrowed to 3-2. However, the Garnet Chargers then outscored the Bombers 8-2 in the second and third quarters, securing a Liberty League victory. Peter Kip was the top scorer with four goals and one assist, and Justin Greene added three goals.
Noteworthy Stat: Matthew Paolatto won 21 of 23 faceoffs and tied his career high with 17 ground balls.
Record: 2-1 conference, 8-2 overall.
GAME 9: ST. LAWRENCE 12, UNION 6
Details: The game took place on March 30 at Hall-Leet Stadium in Canton.
Summary: The Garnet Chargers suffered their second consecutive loss, and their first in Liberty League play, as St. Lawrence improved to 2-0 in the Liberty League and 10-0 overall. Judge Murphy led the Saints with four goals and two assists. Ben Hutchinson added two goals and two assists. Peter Kip was the top scorer for Union with two goals and two assists.
Noteworthy Stat: Union was held to under 10 goals for the second consecutive game.
Record: 1-1 conference, 7-2 overall.
GAME 8: TUFTS 24, UNION 5
Details: The game was held on March 26 at Bello Field in Medford, Massachusetts.
Summary: Union’s impressive seven-game winning streak came to an abrupt end. After Union took a 1-0 lead, Tufts scored the next 16 goals. The Jumbos outscored the Garnet Chargers 11-0 in the second quarter, taking a 15-1 lead at halftime. Jack Regnery led Tufts with six goals and three assists, and Charlie Tagliaferri added five goals, four of which came in the second quarter. Zach Davis was the top scorer for Union with two goals.
Noteworthy Stat: The 24 goals were the most the Garnet Chargers have allowed in a game since giving up 20 against Vassar on April 29, 2017.
Record: 1-0 conference, 7-1 overall.
GAME 7: UNION 15, CLARKSON 10
Details: The game took place on March 24 at Frank Bailey Field.
Summary: Union led 6-2 with 1:59 left in the first quarter, but Clarkson scored five unanswered goals. The Garnet Chargers responded with three scores before halftime, and never let Clarkson get closer than three goals in the second half. Zach Davis and Hazen Pike each scored three goals, while Jake Mabardy contributed two goals and four assists. Goalie Dan Donahue made 15 saves.
Noteworthy Stat: Matthew Paolatto won 27 of 29 faceoffs, and his overall percentage of .750 is leading all divisions.
Record: 1-0 conference, 7-0 overall.
GAME 6: UNION 11, MIDDLEBURY 9
Details: The game was held at Tierney Field (U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame) in Baltimore, Maryland.
Summary: No. 8 Union led 4-3 at halftime before No. 19 Middlebury scored the first three goals of the third quarter. Union then closed the quarter on a 3-0 run, which included two goals by Michael Shaw, to retake the lead for good. Peter Kip’s last two goals gave Union a cushion at the end. Kip led the scoring with four goals and two assists. Shaw had four goals. Matthew Paolatto won 16 of 24 faceoffs, and Dan Donahue made 15 saves.
Noteworthy Stat: Sophomore midfielder Matt McKenzie had a career-high five assists.
Record: 0-0 conference, 6-0 overall
GAME 5: UNION 17, MUHLENBERG 7
Details: The game took place on March 9 at Frank Bailey Field.
Summary: The No. 11/15-ranked Garnet Chargers got a career-high three goals apiece from senior Henry Quaintance and sophomore Emmett Lyne to lead a balanced scoring attack in the non-conference win. Union also outscored the Mules 7-0 in the fourth quarter. Senior goalie Dan Donahue backstopped the defense with 15 saves.
Noteworthy Stat: Senior All-American midfielder Matthew Paolatto won 17 of 23 faceoffs and gathered 11 ground balls.
Record: 0-0 conference, 5-0 overall
GAME 4: UNION 12, WILLIAMS 12
Details: The game was held on March 2 at Farley-Lamb Field, Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Summary: Another close game ends in favor of Union, despite blowing a 10-5 halftime lead. Williams scored five unanswered goals in the second half to tie the score at 10. Zach Davis gave Union an 11-10 lead when he scored with 5:20 left in the fourth quarter. Williams’ Will Doran tied it less than two minutes later. Emmett Lyne scored with 1:59 remaining to put Union ahead for good.
Noteworthy Stats: Three of Union’s four victories have been by a goal. The other was a two-goal victory. … Jake Mabardy led Union with two goals and two assists. Michel Shaw and Matthew Paolatto added two goals each, and Peter Kip had a goal and three assists.
Record: 0-0 conference, 4-0 overall
GAME 3: UNION 13, SPRINGFIELD 12
Details: The game took place on March 2 at Springfield, Massachusetts.
Summary: Jake Mabardy’s third goal of the game with 6:54 left in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner as the Garnet Chargers edged Springfield. Peter Kip led Union with four goals and two assists. Michael Shaw and Zach Davis added two goals and two assists each. Goalie Dan Donahue made 15 saves.
Noteworthy Stat: Union had 36 ground balls, compared to 20 for Springfield.
Record: 0-0 conference, 3-0 overall
GAME 2: UNION 14, ENDICOTT 12
Details: The game was held on Feb. 28 at Hempstead Stadium, Beverly, Massachusetts.
Summary: Peter Kip scored three of his four goals in the second quarter, when the Garnet Chargers outscored Endicott 6-1 to snap a 5-5 tie and take an 11-6 halftime lead. Endicott scored the first three goals of the third and fourth quarters, but were never able to tie the score.
Noteworthy Stat: Union had 39 ground balls, compared to 29 for Endicott. Matthew Paolatto led the way with eight ground balls. Patrick Reilly added six. … Paolatto won 14 of his 24 faceoffs.
Record: 0-0 conference, 2-0 overall
GAME 1: UNION 14, BABSON 13
Details: The game took place on Feb. 24 at Frank Bailey Field.
Summary: Babson took its second lead of the game, 12-11, with 8:08 left, but Union got two goals from Justin Greene and one from Archie McEvoy, then kept the Beavers from getting off one last tying shot. Greene led the scoring with five goals, while Michael Shaw had four goals and three assists.
Noteworthy Stat: Matthew Paolatto won 19 of his 29 faceoffs, and Luke McHugh went 2 for 2 going against the Beavers’ two faceoff specialists, one of whom is a graduate student transfer and was Division I Lafayette’s main faceoff person last season.
Record: 0-0 conference, 1-0 overall
Disagree – The season was a disappointment, there’s room for improvement next year.
Disagree – The team showed tremendous growth and potential this season, excited to see what they can do next year.