SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College women's lacrosse team held off a second-half surge by RIT to claim a 10-8 win, Friday evening at Wachenheim Field.

Trailing 8-3 at the half, the Tigers (5-8, 3-4 Liberty League) came storming back with four-straight goals to open the second stanza. Spencer Morgan's third goal of the day gave the Thoroguhbreds (10-3, 5-1) some breathing room, but Sage Sarkis brought RIT back within one. Needing to force a turnover late, Skidmore took advantage of an open cage, as Brittney Dioneda sealed the win with her second of the contest.

Tyler Phillips produced her fifth four-goal game of the season to lead Skidmore. Morgan extended her scoring streak to five games with a hat trick, while Emma Harris tallied for the ninth-consecutive game.

Maegan Schmauder gave RIT a 1-0 lead 3:14 into the game, but Morgan brought the home side level 1:27 later. After Amanda Olsen restored the Tigers lead, the Thoroughbreds came firing back with five unanswered goals to pull in front 6-2.

Harris started the run, skimming a low sidearm shot along the turf to tie the game and Morgan gave Skidmore its first lead from a free position. Phillips capped the charge, netting two free position goals and scoring with an unassisted effort for a natural hat trick.

Sammy Ward cut the Tigers deficit to 6-3, as Mariah Hettel dumped a feed from behind the cage and Ward snapped home a close range shot, but Skidmore was quick to respond again with two goals in a 15-second span. Dioneda potted her 10th of the season and Phillips added her fourth of the day 15 seconds later, driving into the attacking zone and unleashing an uncontested shot into the top corner to make it 8-3 at the half.

The Tigers bounced back quickly in the second half, as Emily Livecchi took a pass from Corrina Mandell and converted from in tight. RIT piled on three more goals in four minutes to come with one. Sarkis dodged her defender and placed a shot under the crossbar for her first of the day before doubling her output just over two minutes later. Schmauder registered her second of the day, bouncing a shot in off the turf, to make it 8-7.

Morgan gave the Thoroughbreds a two-goal cushion with 12:45 to play, weaving through the RIT defense before scoring with a low shot. After Sarkis brought the Tigers back within one within one with 4:24 left, Amanda Olsen looked to have scored the tying goal only to have it called back for an illegal stick.

Skidmore regained possession and RIT brought goalie Elizabeth Hughes out of the cage to try and force a turnover. The Thoroughbreds capitalized on the chance, as Dioneda beat her defender from behind the goal and wrapped around for a shot into the open net.

The Tigers had a chance to come back within one in the final minute, but Skidmore goalkeeper Megan Kolopsky made the most important of her five saves, denying Livecchi to secure the 10-8 win.

The Thoroughbreds had a 24-20 advantage in shots and a 14-6 edge in draw controls. RIT won the ground ball battle 16-14. Caitlin Conway and Hughes split time in goal for the Tigers. Conway stopped eight shots in the first half, while Hughes made three saves in the second.

Skidmore hosts Rochester at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 18 in its final home game of the regular season. The Thoroughbreds, who have won five-straight, can clinch their first Liberty League postseason berth since 2011 with a win.