SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Emma Basso's hat trick was more than enough for the Skidmore College women's soccer team, as the Thoroughbreds shut out New England College 4-0, on a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon at Wachenheim Field.
 
Skidmore improves to 2-0 on the season, while New England College falls to 0-2.
 
Basso got the Thoroughbreds started in the 20th minute. The junior forward received a feed from junior midfielder Courtney Shaw from a free kick outside the penalty box. Her header fell low past New England College keeper Molly Gingras for the score.
 
The Shaw-Basso duo linked up again at 28:00. Shaw, flying into the attacking third, sent a low cross that found Basso, as she tapped it into the lower corner of the net. Basso earned her hat trick 1:26 into the second half. Freshman midfielder Noa Mills, dribbling inside the penalty box, pulled the New England College keeper out from the net. Mills then fed senior midfielder Jemimah Cochrane, who then found Basso near the net. Basso's first shot was stopped by the goalie, but she found the rebound and knocked it home.
 
Skidmore wrapped up the scoring in the 88th minute, with Cochrane finding freshman midfielder Lauren Winkler in the box for her first collegiate goal. Cochrane's presence pulled the keeper out of position, which allowed Winkler to score on the empty net.
 
The Thoroughbreds outshot the Pilgrims 20-9 and held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Senior goalie Alyssa Rollins picked up her second straight victory in net, making four saves in the full 90 minutes. Rollins also made a pair of crucial saves in the second half to keep the clean sheet alive. Her counterparts, Gingras and Katelynn Brewster, made 10 combined saves, with each goalie playing a half.
 
The Thoroughbreds next hit the road for the first time in 2017, when they travel to Geneseo on Sept. 9 at 3 p.m.