SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A late goal and a key defensive stop lifted No. 6 RIT to a 15-14 win over the third-seeded Skidmore College women's lacrosse team, in the Liberty League Quarterfinal game held at Wachenheim Field on a warm Tuesday afternoon.
Skidmore finishes its season with an 11-7 record, winning 10 or more games in each of the past four seasons. RIT won its first-ever league postseason game, and will face Ithaca in the league semifinal contest on Saturday, hosted by top-seeded William Smith.
Cas Szwajkowski led the Thoroughbreds with five goals, adding four ground balls and two draw controls.
Marisa Caponi tallied three points on two goals and one assist in her final game as a Thoroughbred.
Natalie LaBeau also tallied three points, on one goal and two assists.
Lilla Seymour tallied a pair of goals for two points, while
Anna Boogaerts also tallied two points, on one goal and one assist.
Grace Connerty,
Amanda Orvis, and
Emily Hirsch all scored.
Shelby Boland dished out a pair of assists. LaBeau and
Gianna Muscari each won five draws.
Caroline Kenlon made three saves in the loss.
Emily Livecci led RIT with three goals and three assists. Alanna Fallone and Meghan Donahue combined for seven RIT goals. Rebekah Snitkoff made 16 saves to earn the victory.
It was another high-scoring affair for both teams, who combined for 28 goals in their last meeting in Rochester on March 24. RIT would come out of the gate with a pair of Livecchi goals in the first 1:20, with Skidmore responding with a goal right off the ensuing draw, as Seymour cut the lead in half. The Tigers would increase its lead to 3-1, before Skidmore responded with goals from Szwajkowski and Connerty, tying the game at three at the 19:01 mark. Skidmore and RIT would trade the next six goals, before the Tigers scored twice in the last 1:09 to take an 8-6 lead into the half.
RIT opened the second half with a goal to stretch its lead to 9-6, but a pair of Skidmore goals by Orvis and LaBeau cut the deficit to one (9-8). Livecchi and Szwajkowski both tallied woman-up goals three minutes apart as RIT held a 10-9 lead, then RIT scored on a free-position chance to increase its lead to two. With a chance to increase the lead to three, Kenlon parried away RIT's free position attempt at the 19:40 mark, then Skidmore converted on a free position attempt of its own, cutting the deficit to 11-10 at the 16:42 mark. Szwajkowski would tie the game at 11 just 48 seconds later, on Skidmore's third shot at net in their possession. The Thoroughbreds would get three free position chances in the ensuing 1:41, but were denied each time by Snitkoff. Fallone then scored a pair of goals to give RIT the 13-11 lead.
With its back against the wall, Skidmore mounted one final comeback. After the Skidmore defense forced an RIT shot clock violation, LaBeau fed a cutting Boogaerts in front of net, as RIT led 13-12 with 8:44 to go. Later on, Caponi would pick off an attempted clear by the Tigers goalie, feeding Szwajkowski in transition to tie the game at 13 at the 5:34 mark. RIT and Skidmore would each score, tying the game at 14 with 2:47 to go.
On the ensuing draw, RIT won it, with Brooks Melnyk eventually scoring the go-ahead goal with 2:04 to go in regulation.
Abby Sanford would get a chance to tie with her free position attempt with 1:13 to go, but it was denied by the RIT goalie. The Tigers attempted to salt away the final minute, but
Amanda Cagnassola caused the RIT turnover and Skidmore had one last chance to tie. Boogaerts had a chance to tie at 10 meters with four seconds left, but RIT made a crucial defensive play, causing the turnover to end the game.
Skidmore held a commanding 42-24 shot count, including a 30-18 shots on goal tally, and forced 23 RIT turnovers.
