SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—There hasn't been a Liberty League field hockey tournament without Skidmore College and thanks to a pair of clutch late season wins the Thoroughbreds are back in the title hunt again this season.
 
The third seeded Thoroughbreds (8-10, 3-4 Liberty) travel to second seed and eighth ranked Rochester (17-1, 6-1).
 
The Yellowjackets escaped with a shootout win when the teams played on Oct. 12. With its back against the wall, Skidmore had to win its last two regular season league games to earn its playoff spot. The Thoroughbreds beat Union 4-0 and Ithaca 1-0 in what proved to be elimination contests.
 
This game will be a rematch of the 2016 and 2017 Liberty League championship games. Skidmore won 2-1 in 2016, while Rochester took the 2017 title, 3-2.
 
The Thoroughbreds are the lone team to play in every Liberty League tournament, winning eight of the 15 events. William Smith (6) and Rochester (1) are the only other programs to win championships.
 
Gabby Hyman leads Skidmore in scoring with 15 goals and four assists for 34 points. All-American Marissa Folts is next with four goals and seven assists as a defender. Rookie Mariah Redler (6-2—14) and Grace Florsheim (2-5—9) round out the top scorers.
 
Elizabeth Coughlin has been a workhorse in net, starting all 19 games. She has a 1.86 goals against average and 0.881 save percentage.
 
Rochester brings a three-game winning streak into the game. The lone blemish on the record is a 3-2 road loss to Vassar. The Yellowjackets are 9-0 at home this season.
 
Nancy Bansbach tops UR in scoring with 18 goals and five assists for 41 points. Goalie Kate Kujawa has played all but 35 minutes, compiling a 0.51 goals against average and .842 save percentage.
 
The winner will play the other semifinal winner between top seed Vassar and number four seed Rensselaer on Saturday at the highest remaining seed.