Box Score SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The Skidmore College men's lacrosse team dropped its season-opener Saturday, against Babson College, 14-9 in the snow at Wachenheim Field.

The Beavers got on the board first when Kyle Barsalou snuck a shot past Skidmore goalie Matt Diaco, giving Babson a 1-0 advantage 53 seconds into the first quarter. The lead wouldn't stand for long, as pre-season all-American Mike Perlow fired one into the back of the net, evening the score at 1-1. 

Skidmore continued to solve Babson's defense, as J.P. Sullivan found a cutting Bryan Connolly for his first goal of the season at the 6:12 mark of the first. Seconds later, Perlow added another goal to give the Thoroughbreds a 3-1 lead as the first quarter expired.

Babson answered quickly as the second quarter got underway, scoring six seconds into play on a Phil Russo goal. A mere 18 seconds later, Spencer Low found a streaking Russo for yet another goal, leveling the score at 3-3.  Skidmore would regain the lead with a Sam Lawfer goal before back-to-back Babson goals made it 5-4 in favor of the visitors. Down one and with time ticking down, J.P. Sullivan went to work shredding Babson's defense, scoring at 8:33 and again at 5:48.  A final second goal from Babson's Scott Schachter made it 6-6 when the halftime horn sounded.

Both teams would notch a seventh goal in the third frame before six consecutive Babson shots gave way to its eighth goal as Brendan Coan found nylon. Again, Skidmore battled back, as Perlow scored his third goal of the game giving him a hat trick and tying the contest at 8-8 heading into the final quarter.

Babson controlled the tempo in the fourth stanza from the get go, scoring six times and winning the battle for ground balls.  A Sullivan goal, his third of the game, at 12:05 would be the only goal the Thoroughbreds would tally in the final quarter, despite having three man-up opportunities. Babson's defense buckled down and the Beavers prevailed 14-9.

Perlow and Sullivan each had three goals to lead Skidmore's offense.  Sullivan also added an assist giving him a game-high four points.  Lawfer notched two goals of his own while Connolly contributed a goal and an assist for Skidmore.  Seth Berger had seven ground balls.

Babson was paced by Russo's four goals, while Barsalou and Schachter each found the back of the goal twice.  Alex Patinkin had one goal and two assists, giving him three points on the day.

Diaco had 16 saves in goal for Skidmore, while Babson's James Whalen managed 11.

“We made too many mistakes to win the game today," said Skidmore coach Jack Sandler.  "Babson did a great job capitalizing on our errors and overall played a strong game but that was not our best.  I remain very optimistic about the group we have assembled this year and know that they will put in bettor effort as we prepare for Bates on Sunday.”

Skidmore will play Bates College at Harvard University on Mar. 3 before traveling to Endicott College on Mar. 6.