SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Meaghan Lynch capped a productive afternoon with her second goal, 2:23 into overtime to give the 11th ranked Skidmore College field hockey team a 2-1 win over St. John Fisher in the season opener for both teams.
 
The game had a playoff feel given it was a match-up of defending league champions and NCAA tournament teams.  The Thoroughbreds are coming off a Liberty League title and NCAA final 8 run, while the Cardinals won the Empire 8 championship for their first NCAA bid.
 
After a scoreless first half, Lynch tipped in a well-played pass from Mary Beth Zahnleuter after a corner at 44:57.
 
Lynch, a defender, came up with a big defensive save with 13:20 to play to keep it 1-0.
 
Fisher kept the pressure on and tied it late when Reghan Amoroso deflected a Lexi Foley shot off a corner with 3:46 to play.
 
Skidmore earned the first penalty corner of the overtime after some early back and forth play.  Lynch played the ball to Marissa Folts who returned it to Lynch who calmly fired it home from the right of Cardinal goalie Ashley Maynard for the winner.
 
The Thoroughbreds had a 15-6 shot and 8-6 corner advantage.
 
Elizabeth Coughlin finished with two saves and Zahnleuter had a defensive save.
 
Maynard totaled eight saves, including seven in the first half. Hannah Cooper had a defensive save in the first half for Fisher.
 
Skidmore hosts #5 Babson College on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Beavers are defending NEWMAC champions and made it to the 2016 NCAA Semifinals.