PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester women's lacrosse fell to the Union College Garnet Chargers, 16-11, in their season finale on Saturday at Edwin Fauver Stadium to wrap up their 2025 campaign.
 
The 'Jackets and Garnet Chargers played even for much of the contest, tied at three at the end of one, and tied again at 5-5 at the halftime break. But despite taking a two-goal lead midway early on in the third, Union answered back and would score five-straight to end the third and start the fourth, opening a 14-9 lead they'd never relinquish en route to a five-goal, 16-11, victory.
 
After just over four minutes of scoreless action to start the contest, Sara Mendelson got Rochester on the scoreboard first with her 10th goal of the year, following a turnover caused by Maddie Bunting.
 
Union would answer back a little over two minutes later on Lana Mickelson's tally from Christina Guanci, leveling the score at 1-1 with 8:35 left in the first. The Garnet Chargers would then take their first lead of the contest just shy of the eight-minute mark on Gillian Joseph's score, before Joseph made it 3-1 with 3:14 left in the first.
 
However, UR answered back with two scores in quick succession, as Anna Rogers and Gracie Giannettino knotted the score up at three-all with two goals in just under a minute, sending the two sides into the second quarter tied at three after a late save by Isla Ablin.
 
Rogers then opened up the second-quarter scoring off another Giannettino assist, helping the senior tie the program record with her 76th-career assist.
 
Just like the first quarter, the second frame would prove to be low scoring as well, with the Garnet Chargers answering Rogers' goal with two of their own, before the Yellowjackets tied things up again headed into the halftime break.
 
After Stella Del Papa put Union up 5-4, Gorny answered back for Rochester on a free-position attempt with 2:25 left in the first half, while Ablin kept Union off the scoreboard with two late saves to send UR and Union into the halftime break tied at five.
 
UR then scored twice to start the third, taking their largest lead of the contest, 7-5, with 13:34 to play in the third, on goals from Ella Lassen and Giannettino. Union answered back on a goal by Schiller, but Gorny kept UR's lead at two, scoring on Rochester's ensuing possession after Maddie Bunting won the draw.
 
Gorny's goal gave Rochester an 8-6 lead with 10:27 left in the third, but the Garnet Chargers would respond with three-straight goals of their own to take the lead. Union won back-to-back draws and then turned Rochester over twice, leveling the score at 8-all on Greta Mauer's goal just shy of the eight-minute mark, and then taking the lead on Schiller's goal at the 7:23 mark of the third.
 
Gorny would tie things up again, tallying her 200th-career point with her 58th goal of the season, and while Rochester would get a defensive stop and a chance to take the lead, Sydney Widlitz saved Rogers' attempt and Union would take over possession.
 
And after another Rochester turnover, Greta Maurer scored with 29 seconds left to give Union a 10-9 lead after three quarters of play, and then the Garnet Chargers would score the first four goals of the fourth.
 
Union scored three unanswered and four-straight to start the final period, opening up a 14-9 advantage, the largest lead of the game for either side, on Joseph's score with 9:15 left.
 
And while Rochester answered back with two scores, both from Giannettino, the five-goal lead would prove to be too much to overcome. And up 14-11, Union scored twice late to seal the victory, holding Rochester to just two goals in the final 20 minutes of play.
 
Individually, Giannettino led Rochester with four goals and two assists, tying the program record for career assists with 76, also held by Jenny Rogers `02. Gorny added three goals and an assist, becoming just the fourth player in program history to reach 200 career points.
 
Gorny also had a team-high eight draw controls to set the single-season record with 82, breaking the previous record of 77 set by Grace Crochiere in 2024.
 
Defensively, Campbell Sy and Erin Esposito each picked up three ground balls, while Ablin made 13 saves. Both Sy and Esposito also set the program record for career games played with 66.
 
As a team, Union outshot Rochester 43-25, and turned the 'Jackets over 23 times, while Rochester won the battle in the circle, with 20 draw controls to just 11 for the Garnet Chargers.
 
With the win, Union moves to 11-3 (7-3 LL) on the year, while Rochester wraps up the year at 5-12 (2-8 LL).