SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College women's lacrosse gave defending Liberty League Union College all it could handle, but came up just short in an 8-7 loss Saturday afternoon at Wachenheim Field.
 
The Thoroughbreds are 3-6 and 0-2 in League play, while the Dutchwomen jump to 5-2 and 2-0.
 
Tyler Phillips scored three goals and had three draw controls for Skidmore. Cas Szwajkowski added two goals and two draws. Adele Mackey and Allison Byrne had single goals. Rachel Talanian had a team-high four ground balls and two caused turnovers, while Emma Harris had an assist and three caused turnovers.
 
Jackie Hagopian led Union with three goals. Maggie Comiskey had a goal and two assists and Jessica Farland had a goal and an assist.
 
Neither team had more than a one-goal lead in a game that featured six lead changes and seven ties.
 
Harris won the opening draw and got the ball to Phillips who worked through the Union defense to score 28 seconds into the game. Union went in front for the first time on goals by Kelly Cronin and Hagopian.
 
Skidmore regained the lead, 3-2, on consecutive goals by Phillips and Byrne. The teams traded the next five goals before Laura Pacheco gave Union a 6-5 lead with 1.3 seconds to play in the half.
 
The second half featured more deliberate play by the two teams. Szwajkowski tied it 6-6 with her 22^nd goal of the season at 27:46. Mackey put the Thoroughbreds in front 7-6 at 22:17 with her first goal of the season.
 
Skidmore held the Dutchwomen offensive in check until Hagopian scored from Comiskey to tie it with 7:43 left.
 
Farland scored what would be the game winner on a free position two minutes later. The Thoroughbreds challenged over the final 5:46, but Union held on for the 8-7 win.
 
Skidmore had a 26-22 edge in shots. Thoroughbred goalie Megan Kolopsky had eight saves, while Jen Hughes had eight saves for Union, including three in the final five minutes.
 
Next up for Skidmore is a road game at Bard on April 8.