SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College women's lacrosse team are in the Liberty League Tournament for the fourth season in a row. The third-seeded Thoroughbreds begin their journey on Tuesday, when they host six-seeded RIT in the league quarterfinal on Wachenheim Field at 4:30 p.m.
The contest is free to the public.
Live stats and
video are available for those watching from afar.
This season, the Liberty League Tournament has expanded to six teams. Top-seeded William Smith and second-seeded Ithaca earned byes to the league semifinal games, which will be hosted by William Smith. The Skidmore-RIT winner will face Ithaca in the semifinal on Saturday, May 5, while William Smith will take on either No. 4 RPI or No. 5 Clarkson. The semifinal winners will meet for the league championship on Sunday, May 6.
This is the first time that Skidmore and RIT have met in the postseason.
Skidmore (11-6, 7-3 Liberty League) will host a league playoff game for the first time in program history after running through the league with a 7-3 record. The Thoroughbreds have advanced to the championship game in each of the last four seasons. This season, Skidmore is second in the Liberty League in shot percentage (.433), and are fourth in goals per game (12.53) and points per game (16.71). On the defensive end, the Thoroughbreds are fourth in both caused turnovers per game (9.53) and draw controls per game (13.29).
Individually, Skidmore boasts a balanced attack offensively, with 10 players scoring 10 or more points.
Natalie LaBeau leads the group with 47 points, on 30 goals and a team-leading 17 assists.
Cas Szwajkowski leads the team in goals with 41 and is tied for second in scoring with 45 points. Szwajkowski also leads the team with 61 draw controls.
Emily Hirsch has had a strong rookie campaign so far with 45 points on 38 goals and seven assists. She's also caused a team-leading 24 turnovers. Fellow rookie
Shelby Boland has also enjoyed a strong first season with 27 goals and eight assists for 35 points.
Marisa Caponi rounds out the top five with 21 points on 17 goals and four assists.
In net,
Caroline Kenlon has done well in her first full season as a starter. The two-time Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week leads the team with 67 ground balls. She sports a 9.86 goals against average and a .467 save percentage, starting in all 17 games.
RIT (7-10, 5-5 Liberty League) has alternated wins and losses in its last six league games to earn the sixth seed. The Tigers have made the league tournament for the second time since joining the Liberty League in 2012. In their only meeting of the season on March 24, RIT defeated Skidmore 16-12 in Rochester.
The Tigers are led by Emily Livecchi, who is the league leader in points, with 91 on 52 goals and 39 assists. Alanna Fallone is second with 64 points on 56 goals and eight assists. RIT sports nine players with double-digit point totals. On the defensive end, Maegan Schmauder leads the group with 28 caused turnovers. Rebekah Snitkoff earned the starting role in cage for the Tigers this season, and she sports a 14.87 goals against average and a .400 save percentage, tallying a 5-8 record in 14 games played.
