SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore women's lacrosse team will be looking to climb the conference standings this weekend when it hosts to key Liberty League contests. The Thoroughbreds take on Bard at 4 p.m on Friday before facing Vassar at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Skidmore (5-3, 0-1 Liberty League) vs. Bard (0-5, 0-2 Liberty League)Game Details: Friday, April 3 – 4 p.m. | Saratoga Springs, N.Y. | Wachenheim Field
Game Links: Live Stats | Watch SCOUTING THE THOROUGHBREDS (5-3, 0-1 Liberty League): Skidmore suffered a 9-8 overtime loss to RPI in its Liberty League opener on Saturday.
Emma Harris had a hand in five of the team's six goals, scoring a season-high five goals and adding an assist.
Tyler Phillips produced her seventh multi-goal game of the season with a pair of tallies, while goalkeeper
Megan Kolopsky kept the team in the game, making a career-high 14 saves including five in overtime.
Phillips has scored in all eight games this season and has scored in 15 consecutive games, dating back to last season. She ranks second in the league in goals per game (3.25) and sixth in points per game (3.75). Harris has recorded a point in seven of eight games and had eight goals and two assists over the last three games. Kolopsky is second in the conference with a .474 save percentage and fourth in saves per game (8.0). The Thoroughbreds are second in the league in groundballs per game (23.0) and fourth in draw controls per game (11.13).
SCOUTING THE RAPTORS (1-5, 0-2 Liberty League): Bard recorded its first win of the season on Tuesday, dropping Sage 17-11. The 17 goals were a season-high for the Raptors. Senior midfielder Joanna Regan had a season-high four goals, also adding an assist. Junior midfielder Alexandra Clarke tallied four goals, while senior midfielder Hannah Durham and freshman midfielder Avalon Qian each netted a hat trick. Bard opened its Liberty League schedule over the weekend, suffering losses against William Smith and Union. The Raptors were outscored 29-3 over the two games.
Bard is averaging 6.8 goals per game and has only scored in double figures twice this season. Senior midfielder Joanna Regan leads the team with 12 goals, five assists and 17 points. She has also collected a team-high 25 groundballs. Freshman Kaylynn Tran has started all six games in goal, holding a 13.00 goals against average and a .316 save percentage. The Raptors have yet to win a conference game since joining the Liberty League in 2012.
LAST MEETING: March 29, 2014 at Bard
Skidmore 14, Bard 4
Skidmore downs Bard, 14-4
vs. Vassar (3-3, 1-1 Liberty League)Game Details: Saturday, April 4 – 2 p.m. | Saratoga Springs, N.Y. | Wachenheim FieldGame Links: Live Stats | Watch SCOUTING THE BREWERS (3-3, 1-1 Liberty League): Vassar downed William Smith, 9-8, on Saturday after falling 11-9 to Union in overtime on Friday. The Brewers outscored the Herons 4-1 in the second half to record their first league win of the season. Sophomore attacker Brittany Botticelli potted a hat trick in both games, while Freshman Julia O'Mara scored her first hat trick against the Dutchwomen.
Junior attacker Isabelle Goldstein leads the team with 22 points and 14 assists and sits second in the league in points per game (4.4) and 16
th in the country in assists per game (2.8). Botticelli and junior attacker Kim Mulvehill are tied for the team-high with 11 goals. Botticelli is on a five-game scoring streak, producing all of her 11 goals in that span. Senior defender Jackie Palma is averaging 3.33 caused turnovers per game, placing her atop the conference, while her 3.33 groundballs per game rank third.
Vassar has alternated wins and losses through its first six games. The Brewers are 3-1 when scoring nine or more goals and 3-0 when scoring three or more free position goals.
Vassar's success has been a result of its effort on defense, where the Brewers rank third in Division III in caused turnovers per game (14.67). Senior defender Jackie Palma has played a pivotal role, sitting is sixth in the nation in caused turnovers per game (3.33), while her 3.33 groundballs per game rank third in the conference.
The Brewers have benefited on the offensive side of the ball, ranking third in the league in goals per game (11.17) points per game (16.5) and tied for third in assists per game (5.33).
LAST MEETING: March 28, 2014 at Vassar
Skidmore 6, Vassar 7
Thoroughbreds drop league opener to Vassar, 7-6
NEXT UP:Skidmore goes on the road for a pair of conference clashes, taking on St. Lawrence at 4 p.m. Friday, April 10 before playing at Clarkson at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 11.
