SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sophomore midfielder
Emily Mendes tallied two goals and added an assist, to lead the Skidmore College women's soccer team past Castleton 7-3, in the season opener for both teams Thursday at Wachenheim Field.
Emily Saliterman and
Jemimah Cochrane also tallied two goals apiece for the Thoroughbreds (1-0).
Emma Basso scored a goal, while
Courtney Shaw added an assist.
Alyssa Rollins got the start in net, making eight saves for the victory.
Skidmore struck quickly, getting an early corner kick just over 1:30 into the contest. The ensuing kick touched the defender's hand, giving Skidmore the penalty chance. Mendes beat the keeper low and to the left for the season's opening goal.
Skidmore added a second goal in the 19th minute, when Shaw crossed it from outside the box to Saliterman, who finished low against the Castleton keeper.
Castleton (0-1) answered just five minutes later, as forward Bronwen Hopwood got on the board. But the Thoroughbreds answered quickly, with Mendes getting her second goal of the game. After a Castleton goal in the 36th minute, Skidmore struck again, as Mendes fed Basso on a long through pass, with Basso finishing left against the Castleton goalkeeper.
Skidmore put the game away with three goals in the second half. Saliterman scored her second of the game on an individual effort in the 57th minute. In the 73rd minute, Cochrane scored what proved to be the game-winner, curling a shot from outside the penalty box on the right side, over the keeper into the upper corner of the net.
Castleton scored its third goal of the game off a deflection outside the box, which was corralled by Izzy Hutnak. She beat two defenders, and finished past the Skidmore goalkeeper low. The Thoroughbreds answered just a minute later, when Cochrane found the ball off a
Jane Huber shot. Cochrane smashed the ensuing rebound high for the goal.
The Thoroughbreds outshot the Spartans 25-14 in a fast-paced game, and picked up six corners to Castleton's three.
The Thoroughbreds will next host the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Friday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m.
