SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College men's soccer team opened up Liberty League play with a 2-0 victory over Union, on a warm Friday night at Wachenheim Field.
 
Skidmore improves to 3-1-2 (1-0 Liberty League) in the first league game of the season. Union, also playing in its first league game, drops to 1-4 overall.
 
After an even 35 minutes, in which both teams saw few chances at net, Skidmore got the lead in the 36^th minute. On the Skidmore attack, sophomore Shoyo Yanagihara found senior Mike Park wide with one Union defender to beat. Park made a move past the defender in the box but was tripped up, forcing the referee to call a penalty in favor of the Thoroughbreds. Yanaghihara stepped up and easily converted low and to his left.
 
Skidmore saw more chances as the game progressed, finally getting its second in the 81^st minute. Off a deflected pass, the ball found freshman Hart Jamieson from about 30 yards out. The rookie sent a low rocket through the Union defense and past Dutchmen keeper Trevor Krupp, for his first collegiate goal.
 
The Skidmore defense was once again solid, earning its third shutout of the season. Junior goalie Sebastian Bosch made a pair of impressive diving saves to keep Union off the board. Off a corner kick in the 37^th minute, Union's Salvador Lopez Jr. found Jeremy Conn for a leaping header, but Bosch got to the spot in time and just tipped away a low header out of harm's way. In the 85^th minute, Lopez Jr. got another shot at goal, but his attempt from in the box was turned away by a diving Bosch. The junior finished with three saves and his league-leading third clean sheet of the season in five contests.
 
The Thoroughbreds outshot the Dutchmen by an 11-8 margin and 6-3 edge in shots on target. Both teams took seven corner kicks in the contest.
 
Skidmore will hit the road for the next three games, beginning with a trip to MCLA for a non-league contest on Tuesday at 6 p.m.