Box Score POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- The Skidmore College women's soccer team played to its second consecutive Liberty League tie, drawing with Vassar, 0-0, Saturday afternoon at Gordon Field.
The Thoroughbreds go to 3-3-2 (0-0-2 Liberty League), while the Brewers move to 5-2-1 (0-0-1).
Both teams challenged from the get go, exchanging shots in the opening minutes of the physical back-and-forth contest. The Brewers carried the momentum early, and nearly had the game's first goal after Chloe Wheeler found Katie Voegtlin open on the left side in the 24th minute. Voegtlin fired a shot on an open net, but Thoroughbreds defender Julia Leslie jumped in front of the shot at the last second to make a goal-saving deflection. The tides turned towards the end of the first half, as Skidmore began pressuring and putting chances on target. Vassar goalkeeper Emma Nichols turned away all four shots she faced, and the teams went into halftime knotted at zero.
The Brewers regained form in the beginning of the second half keeping possession of the ball in the Thoroughbreds defensive half. Vassar nearly broke the deadlock in the 67th minute, but Thoroughbreds goalkeeper Deirdre Walsh denied as Sarah Bourenane's header from a Vassar free kick. Vassar entered overtime for the first time all season, and had their hands full from a charging Thoroughbred side in the first period. Nicole LoRusso nearly found the winner in the 98th minute after beating the Brewer defense in the box for a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper, but her shot went wide right. Skidmore again had the upper hand in the final 10 minutes of play, outshooting Vassar 5-1 in the period. Leslie tested Brewers goalkeeper Stephanie Tapolsky with a long range effort, but Tapolsky was up to the challenge, preserving her third combined shutout of the year along with Nichols.
Walsh made two saves in goal for Skidmore for her second career shutout, while Tapolsky (65:00 MP, two saves) and Nichols (45:00 MP, four saves) split time in goal for Vassar. The Thoroughbreds outshot the Brewers 17-15, including a 7-2 advantage in overtime, while Vassar had a 5-3 edge in corners.
Skidmore return to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 when it welcomes Middlebury College.
