GENEVA, N.Y.— The Skidmore College women's lacrosse team returns to the Liberty League championship game after a 9-8 win over #20 Union College Friday evening at William Smith College. The Thoroughbreds will face host William Smith on Saturday 3:30 p.m. for the chance to advance to the NCAA Division III championship.
 
Skidmore will be making its second championship game appearance in program history after losing to the Dutchwomen in the 2015 title game.
 
For the Thoroughbreds, Tyler Phillips had four goals, three ground balls, and three caused turnovers. Cas Szwajkowski scored three goals and had an assist to go along with five ground balls and a caused turnover. Emma Harris added two goals and Rachel Talanian contributed four draw controls, two ground balls, and a caused turnover.
 
Jessica Farland led Union with four goals, two ground balls, and two caused turnovers.  Kate Kurchena had five draws.
 
Skidmore jumped out to a 3-0 lead on an Harris free position and back-to-back goals by Phillips. Union scored three goals in less than three minutes to tie it. Farland had two of the three, including the tying goal at 16:38.
 
The Thoroughbeds responded with goals by Szwajkowski (13:54) and Phillips (11:43) to go up 5-3. Natalie Sullivan got one back for the Dutchwomen at 9:19, but Phillips scored her 55th of the season with 6:40 left and Harris notched her 23rd with :35 left for a 7-4 advantage at the half.
 
Skidmore outshot Union 24-9 in the first half. Dutchwomen keeper Jen Hughes had 11 saves in the half to keep the game close.
 
Union struck first in the second half off a turnover. Farland caused it and moved straight to net for her third goal. Farland then cut it to 7-6 at 25:16. Szwajkowski pushed the lead back to two, 8-6 with a grounder past Hughes at 23:42.
 
Maggie Comiskey made it a one-goal game again when her shot caught the top of the cage at 18:06. Szwajkowski scored stick side at 12:19 for a 9-7 Thoroughbred lead. Farland bounced one in 7:09 to bring it back to one, 9-8.
 
Union had possession late with a chance to tie it, but Gianna Muscari caused a turnover, scooped up the ground ball, and headed into the offensive zone with 1:36 to play. The Thoroughbreds called time out and were able to maintain possession the rest of the way.
 
Skidmore finished with a 32-19 shot and 20-12 ground ball advantage. Megan Kolopsky had four saves for the Thoroughbreds, while Hughes finished with 17 saves.