SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College men's soccer team is set to kick off its 2025 campaign when it hosts Salem State in a non-league contest at Wachenheim Field on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The Thoroughbreds, under second-year head coach, are looking to build upon the momentum gained last year under a new moniker: Earned Excellence.
 
A REWIND OF 2024
Skidmore used penalty kicks to get through Ithaca in last year's playoff opener. Then, the Thoroughbreds dropped a heartbreaker in double overtime, 2-1, to St. Lawrence in the Liberty League Semifinals.
 
Skidmore finished the year 6-4-7 with a 5-2-2 mark in the Liberty League. The Thoroughbreds surrendered one goal or fewer in all but two games which includes nine shutouts. Skidmore boasted one of Division III's best defenses by the numbers.
 
THE SCHEDULE AHEAD
Skidmore will play a pair of non-league games at Oneonta and SUNY Poly before welcoming Plattsburgh State (9/10) and Springfield College (9/13) to Saratoga Springs. Liberty League play begins on Tuesday, Sept. 23 with a short trip to Union.
 
Skidmore hosts its conference home opener on Saturday, Sept. 27 against St. Lawrence, with other league home games against Rensselaer (10/15), Bard (10/18), and RIT (11/1). The First Round of the Liberty League Tournament is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 4, with the semifinals and championship to follow that weekend.
 
RETURNING
Skidmore has back two All-Liberty League selections, including Liberty League Defender of the Year Will Devall. The goalkeeper had a 0.61 goals-against average and a .878 save percentage with eight shutouts last season. Colin Goodhines earned a spot on the All-Liberty League Second Team with a team-leading six goals and 13 points. Skidmore has 21 returners from last year's roster.
 
INCOMING
The Thoroughbreds welcome 11 newcomers to the program for 2025.
 
PROGRAM HISTORY
Skidmore has appeared in the Liberty League title game five times in the past 20 seasons, most recently in 2022. The program has had two United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and one CSC Academic All-American®.
 
Head coach Brad Campion enters his second season at the helm of the Thoroughbreds. His overall head coaching record is 18-11-9 (.592).
 
FROM HEAD COACH BRAD CAMPION
"We are encouraged by our group's performance in 2024 and feel incredibly motivated to make the most of each moment in the 2025 season. This is an exciting year for the Liberty League as three programs selected new head coaches in the off-season. There will be a new, interesting dynamic to each game and I expect our league to perform well out-of-conference this year. We return a solid core, but with 11 newcomers, there will be competition in each position this season and we are excited to keep the momentum going."