Medford, Mass. – The Skidmore College field hockey team advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals after Saturday's rain-soaked 4-3 second round victory over Amherst College at Tufts University.

 

The Thoroughbreds improved to 17-3 and have won 10 straight while the Lord Jeffs end their season with a 12-5 record. It will be Skidmore's fifth quarterfinals appearance and first since 2003.

 

The Thoroughbreds got the scoring started when senior Elise Britt (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) pounded home a rebound off of a shot by Brittany O'Brien (Ridgefield, Conn.) to give Skidmore the 1-0 lead at the 21:50 mark with her team-leading 22^nd goal of the season. Amherst fought back to take a 2-1 lead on goals from Katie McMahon and Molly Malloy, but the Thoroughbreds would tie it up late in the first half when junior Lauren McCarthy (Ipswich, Mass.) took a pass from Katie Potter (Rumson, N.J.) and scored from the top of the circle off a penalty corner.

 

At the 45:21 mark, Christine Kemp (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) gave the lead back to Skidmore when she deflected Annie Rosencran's (Riverside, Conn.) shot and beat the Lord Jeffs' keeper Emily Vitale for her 19^th goal of the season.

 

Amherst came back and tied it up at 3-3 with just under eight minutes left when Malloy fed McMahon for her second goal of the game. Skidmore answered right back when O'Brien took a pass from Kemp in front of the goal and scored with four minutes remaining to give the Thoroughbreds their third and final lead of the game.

 

Skidmore goalie Liz Catinella (Sudbury, Mass.) played well in goal, making eight stops and came up with a big sliding save with two minutes left to preserve the victory for the Thoroughbreds. Vitale stopped three shots for Amherst.

 

Skidmore will play Tufts tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the right to advance to the national semifinals at Mount Holyoke on November 21. 

                       Field Hockey Game Summary (Final)

                       2009 Skidmore College Field Hockey

          Amherst vs #9 Skidmore College (Nov 14, 2009 at Medford, MA)

 

 Amherst (12-5) vs. Skidmore College (17-3)

 Date: Nov 14, 2009 Attendance: 350

 Weather: Rain, 50s

 

 Goals by period       1 2 Tot

 -------------------------------

 Amherst............. 2 1 - 3

 Skidmore College.... 2 2 - 4

 

 SCORING SUMMARY:

 1. 21:50 SKIDMORE Elise Britt (22) (Brittany O'Brien)

 2. 26:15 AMH Katie McMahon (9) (Sarah McCarrick)

 3. 31:11 AMH Molly Malloy (8) (Chrissy Cantore)

 4. 33:51 SKIDMORE Lauren McCarthy (3) (Katie Potter)

 5. 45:21 SKIDMORE Christine Kemp (19) (Annie Rosencrans)

 6. 62:07 AMH Katie McMahon (10) (Molly Malloy)

 7. 66:42 SKIDMORE Brittany O'Brien (14) (Christine Kemp)

 

 Shots: Amherst 19, Skidmore College 15

 Saves: Amherst 3 (Emily Vitale 3), Skidmore College 8 (Liz Catinella

 8)