Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – The 5^th-ranked Skidmore College field hockey team used a six goal outburst in the second half to defeat St. Lawrence 8-1 and advance to the Liberty League Championship.
 
The Thoroughbreds improve to 17-1, extending their home winning streak to 28 games, and will host the winner of Friday night's William Smith-RPI matchup.  The Saints end their season with a 9-8 record.
 
St. Lawrence got the scoring started early as Courtney Cartier deflected Erika Swits' shot from the top of the circle past Skidmore goalie Haley McDougall for her fifth of the season.
 
Junior Ceilidh MacNeill tied it up at 20:46 when she redirected Hilary Cranston's pass from outside the circle past Nicole Matos.  Lauren Tobias gave Skidmore the lead in the 30^th minute, taking a pass from Annie Rosencrans and sending it home for her 14^th of the season. 
 
After leading 2-1 at the half, the Thoroughbred offense came alive in the second half.  Kelly Blackhurst blasted a shot from the top of the circle to make it 3-1 and then assisted of MacNeill's second goal of the game at the 43:14 mark.  Blackhurst tallied her second of the game and 24^th of the season in the 48^th minute to make it 5-1.  Skidmore went on a run late as MacNeill, Caylyn Sullivan and Sam Skott all scored in a 2:10 span to close it out and give the Thoroughbreds an 8-1 win.
 
McDougall finished with three saves to earn the win and Annie Weis added a defensive save for Skidmore.  For the Saints, Matos stopped 14 shots, while Ali Ferenczy and Julia Croyle each had a defensive save.
 
The Thoroughbreds outshot St. Lawrence 30-5 and held a 14-7 advantage in penalty corners.
 
 
                       Field Hockey Game Summary (Final)
                       2011 Skidmore College Field Hockey
   St. Lawrence vs #5 Skidmore College (Nov 02, 2011 at Saratoga Springs, NY)
 
 St. Lawrence (9-8) vs. Skidmore College (17-1)
 Date: Nov 02, 2011  Attendance: 200
 Weather: Low 50's, sunny at start
 
 Goals by period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------
 St. Lawrence........  1  0 -  1
 Skidmore College....  2  6 -  8
 
 SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.   6:57 SLU Courtney Cartier (5) (Erika Swits) - Deflection off shot from top
  2.  20:46 SKIDMORE Ceilidh MacNeill (9) (Hilary Cranston) - Redirected shot from top
  3.  29:20 SKIDMORE Lauren Tobias (14) (Annie Rosencrans) - Pass in front of goal
  4.  38:50 SKIDMORE Kelly Blackhurst (23) Penalty corner - Shot from top of circle
  5.  43:14 SKIDMORE Ceilidh MacNeill (10) (Kelly Blackhurst) - Redirected deflected pass
  6.  47:12 SKIDMORE Kelly Blackhurst (24) Penalty corner - Shot from top off corner
  7.  58:17 SKIDMORE Ceilidh MacNeill (11) (unassisted) - Rebound off pads
  8.  58:40 SKIDMORE Caylyn Sullivan (2) (unassisted) - Shot from top of circle
  9.  60:27 SKIDMORE Sam Skott (7) (unassisted) - Rebound off pads
 
 Shots: St. Lawrence 5, Skidmore College 30
 Saves: St. Lawrence 16 (Nicole Matos 14; TEAM 2), Skidmore College 4 (Haley McDougall 3; TEAM 1)