ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Skidmore College burst to a 6-0 lead in the first six minutes, then had to hold on for a 12-11 women's lacrosse victory over the University of Rochester at Edwin Fauver Stadium on Friday afternoon.
The Thoroughbreds used two critical scoring runs - 6-0 in the first 6:17, then 3-0 over six minutes of the second half – to stave off a Rochester team trying for its first win of the year. Skidmore is 5-2, 1-1 in the Liberty League. Rochester is 0-4, 0-1 in the Liberty League. Skidmore plays at RIT on Saturday. Rochester hosts RPI.
Emily Hirsch scored six goals for the visitors. Natalie LaBeau had two goals and three assists. Marisa Caponi had one goal and one assist. Cas Szwajkowski, Sophia Hagstromer, and Amanda Orvis each scored one goal. Shelby Boland and Lilla Seymour added assists for the Thoroughbreds.
Madeline Levy and Jamison Seabury scored three goals apiece for Rochester. Madeline Mullholand had two goals as did Maggie McKenna. Jenna Macri scored one. Mullholand had two assists. Levy, Anna Olsen, and Brigid Regan each had one assist.
In goal, Caroline Kenlon made six saves on 24 Rochester shots. Conley Ernst made 13 saves in 57:02 for Rochester and allowed 11 goals. Katherine Bushway played 2:58 in the first half. She allowed one goal.
The win wasn't secured until Levy's would-be equalizer rolled past the left post with 15 seconds left and the net empty after a giveaway. Seabury had the ball outside the critical scoring area after a stoppage and one second on the shot clock. Her long-range attempt went into the netting past the goal. Skidmore called time to set up a play from the endline and keep possession.
After the timeout, the Thoroughbreds lost the ball in the circle and Levy got to it first. She tried to roll it in, but it was just wide.
Hirsch scored three times before the match was five minutes old. Rochester changed goalies after Hirsch earned the hat trick. Bushway yielded a goal to Szwajkowski and Ernst came back in with 22:15 left in the half. She made saves and Rochester's offense began to find some consistency. The Yellowjackets went on a 4-1 run to get within 7-4 with 7:12 left in the half after Macri scored from the free position.
The lead went to 9-5 Skidmore when Hirsch scored from close range after a pass from Boland with 36.8 seconds left. Levy made it 9-6 when she scored just before the halftime horn sounded.
Goals from McKenna and Seabury in the first 12 minutes of the second half pulled Rochester within a goal, 9-8. SC asked for time and crafted the 3-0 run to move back in front by four, 12-8. Hirsch scored off LeBeau's pass, Seymour found Orvis deep in the critical area for an 11-8 edge and Hirsch netted her sixth with Caponi assisting with 11:13 to go.
UR scored three goals in three and a half minutes, all from the free position: Mullholand (12-9, 8:35 left), McKenna from with Rochester playing up (12-10, 7:03), and Seabury (12-11, 5:05 left).
Skidmore outshot Rochester, 33-24. The Thoroughbreds were 2-10 on free position shots. Rochester was 6-8 on free positions. UR committed 20 turnovers to 17 for SC. The Yellowjackets had 19 ground balls; SC had 17.
Individually, Szwajkowski won nine draw controls. LaBeau and Kathleen Hanna won two each. The ground ball leaders were Hirsch and Kenlon with three each. Erin Mah caused two turnovers.
