SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A strong second-half performance by seventh-ranked Ithaca was too much for the Skidmore College women's lacrosse team, who fell by a 20-10 score in the Liberty League opener for both teams at Wachenheim Field Saturday afternoon.

Skidmore falls to 4-2 on the season, while Ithaca improves to 4-1.

Cas Szwajkowski and Shelby Boland tallied hat tricks to lead the Thoroughbreds. Emily Hirsch added a pair of goals and an assist on offense, adding five ground balls on the other end. Natalie LaBeau scored a pair of goals and Anna Boogaerts added an assist to complete the scoring. Szwajkowski and LaBeau each won five draws. Boogaerts, Hirsch, and Teyana Daley each caused two turnovers. Caroline Kenlon was busy in net with 15 saves, adding five ground balls.

Jacqui Hallack tallied seven goals to lead the Bombers. Elizabeth Rice tallied eight points on six goals and two assists. Bailey Herr added five assists. Kimberly Presuto picked up the victory in net, making 12 saves.

Skidmore struck first in this one, getting an unassisted tally from LaBeau just 1:51 seconds into the game. Ithaca would respond with three straight goals to take a 3-1 lead, before Szwajkowski broke the run with her 20^th goal of the season, at 20:19. Ithaca and Skidmore would trade goals, with the Bombers holding a 5-3 lead, before the Thoroughbreds responded with a 3-0 run. Hirsch started the party with an unassisted goal, before Szwajkowski tied the game at five with her strike at 14:51. On the next Skidmore possession, Hirsch grabbed a rebound on a Marissa Caponi shot, quickly scoring at 13:38 to take a 6-5 lead. The Bombers would score three straight goals to retake the lead at 8-6, before Boland and Szwajkowski tallied goals to tie the game at eight with 1:02 to play. Ithaca would end the half with a Hallack goal with 22 seconds to go.

Ithaca would open the half with three straight goals, pushing the lead to 12-8. Boland would break the Bombers run at 23:55 but Ithaca would tack on three more goals to take a 15-9 lead. Skidmore would break the run, with LeBeau scoring in transition at 20:24, but Ithaca scored the last five goals of the game for the 20-10 final.

Ithaca led in the shot count, 41-31 and won 17 of 30 draws. Skidmore went 20-for-25 in clear chances, while Ithaca went 21-for-26.

The Thoroughbreds will head west next weekend, taking on the University of Rochester next Friday.