SARATOGA SPRINGS – With a strong balance of young talent, midfield depth and key veterans, the Skidmore College women's lacrosse team enters the 2026 season looking to compete for a postseason push in an always competitive Liberty League conference. The Thoroughbreds will kick off the year at home tomorrow against Smith College.

A REWIND OF 2025
The Thoroughbreds picked up a trio of non-conference victories, with home victories against SUNY New Paltz, 13-6, and Westfield State in overtime, 11-10, alongside a Spring Break neutral-site win over Marymount, 13-12. Overall, Skidmore went 3-3 in the non-conference slate to start the season.

Liberty League play began with a dominant 25-7 road victory over Bard, before clinching a thrilling 11-10 overtime win on Senior Day over Rochester. The Thoroughbreds also picked up one final conference win on the road at RPI, 13-9. Overall, Skidmore finished 3-7 in conference play.

THE SCHEDULE AHEAD
Following the home opener, Skidmore travels out to Springfield next Wednesday for a 4 PM road opener matchup. The Thoroughbreds will also compete against a pair of nationally-ranked non-conference opponents, by first hosting top-ranked Middlebury on March 3 before traveling out to take on No. 19 Babson in a March 10 matchup on the road.

Skidmore begins conference play on the road at William Smith on March 14 at 4 PM, before hosting RPI in the league home opener on March 18 at 4 PM. Skidmore will next travel out to face Union on March 21, before wrapping up non-conference play with a home matchup against St. John Fisher on March 27.

The Thoroughbreds will host Senior Day on March 28 in a matchup with Bard at 3 PM, kicking off a three-game Liberty League homestand that also includes an April 3 matchup against Clarkson, and an April 4 game against St. Lawrence. Following three road games at Vassar (April 8), Rochester (April 17) and RIT (April 18), the Thoroughbreds will wrap up the regular season at Wachenheim Field against Ithaca on April 25.

The 2026 Liberty League Tournament is scheduled for April 28 (First Round), May 1 (Semifinals) and May 3 (Championship).

STAR RETURNERS
Coming off strong offensive seasons in 2025, senior Julia Cafasso finished second on the team with 30 goals, seven assists, and 37 points, while junior Phoebe Ross led the team with 26 assists and added 32 total points. Other key returning goal scorers include senior Lily Hudner, who finished last season fourth on the team with 16 goals.

Named to the All-Liberty League Third Team a year prior, junior Annie Campbell will once again play a key role in the Skidmore defense after finishing with 17 caused turnovers, 17 groundballs, and 19 draw controls. Junior Charlotte Taylor led the program with 37 draw controls, while fellow junior Tessa Snyder paced the team with 24 groundballs and 23 caused turnovers.

T-BRED NEWCOMERS
Skidmore welcomes the addition of ten talented first-years and a sophomore walk-on to the program.

PROGRAM HISTORY
The Thoroughbreds have posted a 115-18 record thorough 15 seasons under the leadership of head coach Elizabeth Ghilardi, including a 67-60 record in Liberty League play. The program has made the conference postseason eight total times during that stretch, including three-consecutive Liberty League Championship game appearances from 2015 to 2017.

FROM HEAD COACH ELIZABETH GHILARDI
"It's been a cold start to the spring in Saratoga, but the energy this group brings every day has been incredible. We return key leaders on the defensive end, and we're excited about the young talent ready to make an impact offensively for the Thoroughbreds. With great depth in the midfield, we plan to play fast, compete hard, and be a really fun team to watch this spring."