Box Score SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The Skidmore men's lacrosse team nearly overcame a three goal margin Saturday afternoon in its first Liberty league contest of the season, before falling to St. Lawrence 9-8 at Wachenheim Field.
Skidmore moves to 2-5 on the season, including a 0-1 start in Liberty League play. 
St. Lawrence improves to 3-3 with a 1-0 record in conference play.

Kevin Mulvey led all scorers with four points on three goals and an assist.  Jon Hoeg notched the hat trick for the Thoroughbreds, scoring three clutch goals.  He also caused two turnovers and collected three groundballs.  Mike Perlow rounded out the scoring with two goals on 13 shots. 

Skidmore's defense played well, forcing St. Lawrence into 30 turnovers.  Sam Christiansen and Clark Demos each caused two turnovers while each scooped up two groundballs.  Thomas Park and Brock Bakewell patrolled the turf well for Skidmore, collecting three groundballs each.

St. Lawrence spread the ball around on offense as eight different players recorded a goal.  The Saints were paced by Jeremy Vautour's two goals, while Davey Hovey, Mac Johnson and Justin Ingram each tallied a goal and an assist in the win.

St. Lawrence was first to strike when Cody Danforth found the back of the net with just over four minutes remaining in the first frame.  Seconds later, The Saints were at it again when Tucker Garfield scored, giving St. Lawrence a 2-0 advantage.

With time ticking away, Bryan Connolly found an opening and dished the ball off to Kevin Mulvey who beat Jack Nuland with four ticks left on the clock to halve the deficit at 2-1. 

As the second quarter got underway, St. Lawrence scored its third goal of the afternoon at 13:03 when Mac Johnson found a cutting Vautour, extending the Saint lead to 3-1.

Skidmore would counter less than two minutes later as Hoeg blasted a shot from inside the circle for Skidmore's second goal.  Seconds later, Perlow dodged his defender and rocketed a shot that found the back of the net, tying the game at 3-3 with roughly 11 minutes left in the half. 

Skidmore took the lead, its first of the game at 6:58 when Mulvey found an open Hoeg who netted Skidmore's third consecutive goal of the quarter.

St. Lawrence quickly answered at 5:38 when Hovey beat Skidmore goalie Matt Diaco, tying the game in the process, 4-4.

The Thoroughbreds got on the board first in the third quarter as Hoeg netted another goal to break the tie and give Skidmore the 5-4 advantage.

Josh Robinson tied the game for St. Lawrence en route to a 4-0 scoring run for the Saints capped by a Johnson goal to give the Saints an 8-5 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Skidmore controlled the tempo for much of the final frame, working the ball around and finding angles.  Mulvey sparked a 2-0 Thoroughbred run when his shot found nylon to bring Skidmore within two goals.  The freshman midfielder was at it again at 9:00, when Matt Ohara scooped up a groundball and found Mulvey open for the man-up goal, bringing the home team to within one.

St Lawrence added some cushioning to its lead when Hovey connected with Vautour, giving the Saints a 9-7 lead, but a Perlow goal kept Skidmore within Striking distance.

Down 9-8, Skidmore had an opportunity to tie the game, but it was not to be as St. Lawrence escaped with the 9-8 win.

 Diaco had a strong afternoon in goal for Skidmore, stopping nine shots.  Nuland earns the win for St. Lawrence after stopping 16 shots.

Skidmore returns to action Tuesday, March 26 at 7p.m. when it hosts Williams at Wachenheim Field.