SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The second-seeded Skidmore College women's lacrosse team is back in the Liberty League Tournament for the third season in a row. Skidmore will begin the quest for its first-ever Liberty League Championship and automatic bid to the Division III NCAA Championship Tournament this weekend, taking on the third seed in St. Lawrence in the semifinals Friday at 5 p.m. in Geneva, N.Y.
The first semifinal will feature top seed and host William Smith (16-1, 9-0 Liberty League) against fourth-seeded Rochester (9-5, 5-4) at 2 p.m. The winner of both games will meet to decide the Liberty League champion on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Skidmore (11-5, 7-2 Liberty League) enters the postseason winners of the last three games and eight of the last 10. In the last three contests, Skidmore has outscored opponents by an impressive 55-18 margin.
The Thoroughbreds are tied for the league lead with 12.06 goals per game, and posts two of the league's most dangerous scorers in sophomore attacker
Cas Szwajkowski and senior midfielder
Tyler Phillips. Szwajkowski leads the league with a program-record 63 goals, adding seven assists for a league-leading 70 points. Phillips, Skidmore's all-time goals and points leader, is fourth in the league with 3.77 points per game, scoring 49 points on 35 goals and 14 assists. Sophomore midfielder
Natalie LaBeau has also enjoyed a solid season, scoring 19 goals and adding a team-leading 17 assists for 36 points. Freshman attacker
Amanda Orvis completes the 20-point scorers with 21 points on 16 goals and five assists. Freshman attacker
Lilla Seymour and senior attacker
Allison Byrne each contribute to the potent Skidmore attack with 13 goals apiece.
On defense, senior defender
Rachel Talanian is one of the league's best talents. She leads the Liberty League in ground balls (69), caused turnovers (44), and draw controls (52) this season. She is also six ground balls away from tying the single-season record, set by Annie Ledyard in 2006, and six caused turnovers away from tying her own single-season caused turnovers record, which was set last season. Sophomore defender/midfielder
Gianna Muscari has also had a solid season on defense, picking up 32 ground balls and causing 27 turnovers. In goal, senior
Megan Kolopsky is third in the league with an 8.66 goals against average, and fourth with a .474 save percentage, playing in all 16 games.
St. Lawrence (8-8, 5-4) enters the postseason winning two of the last three games in league play to earn the third seed. They are led by four 20-point scorers. Kiera Taussig leads the way with 29 points, all on goals. Kara Hurley is second with 27 points on 25 goals and a pair of assists. Julia Mitiguy is third with 19 points and five assists for 24 points, and Kayla Schmalz completes the group with 17 goals and four assists for 21 points.
Taussig also leads the Saints on defense, with a team-leading 32 caused turnovers and 29 ground balls. Mitiguy leads with 48 draws won. St. Lawrence usually splits two goalies. Cricket Wemyss has played in all 16 contests and has made 13 starts, with a 9.27 goals against average and a .434 save percentage, going 6-4. Olga Lukas has made three starts and 12 appearances in goal, going 2-4 with an 8.68 goals against average and a .474 save percentage.
These teams last met on April 8 in Canton, N.Y. Skidmore took an early lead against the Saints, holding on to a 10-8 victory.
