SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College women's lacrosse team knocked off Rochester, 10-8, to clinch its first Liberty League postseason appearance since 2011, Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at Wachenheim Field.
 
The Thoroughbreds, who extended their winning streak to six games, go to 11-3 overall and 6-1 in conference play, while the Yellowjackets go to 8-7 overall and 4-4 in the conference.
 
Skidmore senior captain Brittney Dioneda had a season-high four points, netting her first hat trick and adding an assist. Emma Harris extended her goal streak to 10 games with two goals and Tyler Phillips added a pair of tallies. Freshman Marisa Caponi had her third multi-point game of the season with a goal and an assist, while Paige DiAntonio had a game-high five draw controls.
 
Morgan put Skidmore in front 2:50 into the contest, but Mara Karpp brought Rochester level just over five miuntes later, forcing her way to the front of the net before stuffing home a shot from the top of the crease.
 
The Thoroughbreds regained control of the game with five unanswered goals to take a 6-1 lead. Dioneda scored on a free position to give Skidmore the lead and Phillips potted her first of the game on a counterattack 1:07 later. Dioneda added her second of the contest with 9:02 play in the half and Harris extended the Thoroughbreds advantage, taking a feed from Caponi and slotting a shot inside the far post. After the Yellowjackets had a goal called back for an illegal stick, Phillips carried the ball from midfield and scored with an uncontested shot to cap the run.
 
Rochester bounced back late in the half, pulling within two at the break after back-to-back goals from Lauren Basil and Jamie Wallish.
 
The Yellowjackets continued the run in the second half, tying the game at 6-6 with three goals in the first 7:23 of the stanza. Wallish sliced through the defense from the right wing and scored from close range and brought Rochester within one with a free-position goal 2:22 later. Elisabeth Watson knotted the game with 22:37 to play, as she caused a turnover on a Skidmore clear attempt and took the ensuing ground ball all the way to the cage for her 18th goal of the season.
 
The Thoroughbreds regained a two-goal cushion with back-to-back goals from Caponi and Dioneda, but again Wallish provided the response for the Yellowjackets , converting from a free-position to cut it to 8-7. After over 12 scoreless minutes, Harris gave Skidmore some breathing room with her second goal of the contest, making it 9-7 with 6:01 to play. Rochester continued to battle, clawing back within one with 2:51 remaining in regulation, as Michelle Harrington recorded her first goal of the season from a free position.
 
After DiAntonio collected the ensuing draw control, Skidmore managed to put the game away on a free-position tally from Caroline Bowne. The Yellowjackets threatened late, but Thoroughbreds goalkeeper Megan Kolopsky turned away a rip from Lauren Basil, allowing Skidmore to run out the clock for the 10-8 win.
 
The Thoroughbreds outshot the Yellowjackets 22-19 and had a 19-12 edge in ground balls, while Rochester won 12 of 20 draw controls. Kolopsky finished with seven saves, while Yellowjackets netminder Maire Prosak stopped nine shots.
 
Skidmore closes out the regular season next weekend with a pair of road games at William Smith and Union. The Thoroughbreds can lock up the top seed in the Liberty League tournament with two wins.