Box Score

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Sophomore Kelly Blackhurst tied a program record with 10 points to lead the 5^th-ranked Skidmore College field hockey team to a 7-3 win over RPI in Saturday's Liberty League opener at Thoroughbred Field.
 
Blackhurst scored four goals and had two assists, becoming the fifth player in school history with 10 points in a game and first since Emily Clark in 2005.
 
The Thoroughbreds improve to 5-0, improving their home winning streak to 21 games, while the Engineers fall to 2-2.
 
Blackhurst got Skidmore on the board one minute in when she took a crossing pass from Pauline Searles and beat RPI keeper Briana Earle.  Just over seven minutes later, Lauren Tobias scored on a crossing pass from Jackie Slocombe to make it 2-0.
 
The Engineers cut the lead to one at the 24:41 mark on Alissa Peterson's third goal of the season, a blast from the top of the circle.  But less than a minute later, Blackhurst pushed the lead back to two when she put home a rebound for her second of the game.  The Thoroughbreds made it 4-1 with less than a minute left in the half when Sam Skott redirected a cross from Blackhurst for her second goal of the season.
 
Blackhurst opened the scoring in the second half as well, beating a defender one-on-one and scoring from the center of the circle to make it 5-1.  Tori Elliot cut the lead to 5-2 at the 44:43 mark, taking a pass from Kierstan Ryan and beating the keeper for her first goal of the season.
 
Exactly one minute later, the Thoroughbreds answered back when Ceilidh MacNeill redirected a shot from Blackhurst for her first goal of the season.  Skidmore capped of its scoring at the 52:23 mark when freshman Sam Revera fed Blackhurst in front of the goal and she put it home for her fourth of the game and ninth of the season.
 
The Engineers were able to add another score with eight seconds remaining as Liana Viaggio scored off a corner to make it 7-3.  Peterson and Sarah Krolus assisted on the goal.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Haley McDougall earned the win for the Throroughbreds, making two stops in 67:43 of action.  Earle suffered the loss despite making 16 saves for RPI.

"The Skidmore Field Hockey team started with a bang in league play vs. RPI" coach Beth Hallenbeck said.  "The Thoroughbreds scored a minute into the contest and never looked back.  The action never stopped as the Tbreds cruised to a 4-1 halftime score and finished with a decisive 7-3 victory.  Kelly Blackhurst was outstanding, scoring 4 goals and 2 assists on the day.    Excellent play from Lauren Tobias and Ceilidh MacNeill on the wings helped the team to maintain offensive pressure.  Jackie Slocombe was steady in the midfield, contributing both offensively and defensively.  Once again the win was a result of a true team effort."
 
Skidmore held a 15-7 advantage on penalty corners and outshot the Engineers, 27-6.
 
The Thoroughbreds host Nazareth tomorrow at 1 p.m., while RPI hosts St. John Fisher on Sept. 21.
 
 
                       Field Hockey Game Summary (Final)
                       2011 Skidmore College Field Hockey
       RPI vs #5 Skidmore College (Sep 17, 2011 at Saratoga Springs, NY)
 
 RPI (2-2, 0-1) vs. Skidmore College (5-0, 1-0)
 Date: Sep 17, 2011  Attendance: 175
 Weather: Sunny, mid-60's at start
 
 Goals by period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------
 RPI.................  1  2 -  3
 Skidmore College....  4  3 -  7
 
 SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.   1:00 SKIDMORE Kelly Blackhurst (6) (Pauline Searles) - Crossing pass from outside of circle
  2.   8:04 SKIDMORE Lauren Tobias (5) (Jackie Slocombe) - Crossing pass from outside circle
  3.  24:41 RPI_FH Alissa Peterson (3) (unassisted) - SHot from top of circle
  4.  25:38 SKIDMORE Kelly Blackhurst (7) (unassisted) - Rebound off pads
  5.  34:13 SKIDMORE Sam Skott (2) (Kelly Blackhurst) - Deflection off cross
  6.  41:17 SKIDMORE Kelly Blackhurst (8) (unassisted) - One-on-one
  7.  44:43 RPI_FH Tori Elliott (1) (Kierstan Ryan) - Shot at top of circle
  8.  45:43 SKIDMORE Ceilidh MacNeill (1) (Kelly Blackhurst) - Deflection off shot
  9.  52:23 SKIDMORE Kelly Blackhurst (9) (Sam Revera) - Shot in front of goal
 10.  69:52 RPI_FH Liana Viaggio (1) (Alissa Peterson;Sarah Krolus)
 
 Shots: RPI 6, Skidmore College 27
 Saves: RPI 17 (Briana Earle 16; TEAM 1), Skidmore College 2 (Haley McDougall 2)