Thoroughbreds open Liberty League play at #17 Union

Box Score Schenectady, N.Y. – An early second-half goal was all 17th ranked Union College needed in a 1-0 women's soccer Liberty League win over Skidmore College, Thursday night.

Sophomore defender Whitney Bickford scored her first goal of the season in the 48th minute to lead the Dutchwomen (7-0, 1-0 Liberty League) to the win. The Thoroughbreds fall to 1-5 overall and 0-1 in Liberty League play.

Union goalkeeper Kayla Marti made three saves to earn her fifth shutout of the season. Gab Lawrence had 10 saves for Skidmore.

Both teams traded chances in an exciting first half. Skidmore midfielder Kelsey Yam gave Union a scare in the 38th minute, when her chip from long distance hit off the crossbar. Christine Belloti's follow up shot was blocked and Marti gathered a long shot to end the Skidmore threat.

Early in the second half, Union capitalized on a long throw-in into the box by junior defender Caroline Gorka. The throw bounced to Melissa Mansfield, whose initial shot was blocked, but the ball bounced to Bickford, who fired a shot into the top netting from six yards out at 47:06 to give Union a 1-0 lead.

Senior midfielder Michaela Katz nearly made it 2-0 Union in the 58th minute, but her shot from 20 yards was tipped by Lawrence off the crossbar and over the net.

Skidmore's best chance to tie game came in the closing minutes, as freshman Arena Manning nearly stuffed a shot past Marti in 86th minute, but the Union goalkeeper closed the angle quickly for her best stop of the night.

Union outshot Skidmore 20-8 for the contest, including an 11-3 advantage in shots on net.

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