SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Skidmore College women's soccer team went toe-to-toe against a nationally-ranked opponent, but ultimately fell 3-2 in an exciting shootout against No. 25 Vassar at Wachenheim Field on Saturday afternoon.
Facing a deficit out of halftime, the Thoroughbreds (7-4-4, 4-2-2 Liberty League) came alive offensively with a pair of goals from sophomore
Olivia Chandler and junior
Ellianna Caporusso to take the lead. However, the top-seeded Brewers (13-3, 7-1 Liberty League) responded by delivering the final blow with a pair of fortuitous late-game goals in a four-minute span to steal the win.
Despite the defeat, Skidmore still finds itself in the driver's seat to host a first-round playoff game, as the Thoroughbreds need just a tie in the season finale against RIT to clinch a top-four seed in next month's postseason.
Following the game, the program honored its 2025 senior class with senior day celebrations:
Nikolette Aponte,
Avery Rogers,
Riley Vavolizza,
Emma Toland,
Grace Lazzara,
Josie Oliveira,
Molly Cunningham,
Madison Hallet and
Mikayla Dorrer.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Brewers struck first for the lone score of the first half in the 37th minute on a terrific sequence that saw Gianna Panarelli score off the header of a pass from Ava Holman.
- Just four seconds into the second half, the Thoroughbreds found the equalizer when Chandler lofted a shot from the left side that perfectly dropped over the leaping Vassar Keeper and into the top right corner of the net.
- Caporusso put Skidmore ahead in the 70th minute by drilling another long shot outside the box from the right side that curved across the goal, past the Vassar goalie and into the back left corner to put the Thoroughbreds up 2-1.
- However, the Brewers quickly tied the game just two minutes later on a long shot attempt from Elena Valle that ricocheted off the right post before finding the back left of the net for the goal.
- Vassar then flipped the script in the 76th when a Panarelli shot attempt took a fortuitous deflection off the head of a Skidmore defender, completely changing the ball's trajectory before dropping into the net to put the Brewers ahead, 3-2.
STANDOUT THOROUGHBREDS
- Chandler's goal is her first on the season and third in her career.
- Caporusso's score marks her first on the year and second of her career.
UP NEXT
The Thoroughbreds will wrap up the regular season on the road next Saturday at RIT, with kickoff slated for 2 PM.
