SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Behind five goals from freshman Joseph Killcommons and a stifling defensive performance, the Skidmore College men's lacrosse team cruised to a 10-5 victory over the United States Coast Guard Academy at Wachenheim Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Thoroughbreds (3-0) held the Bears (1-2) scoreless for the first 29:57 of the opening half, recording seven saves and forcing 10 turnovers before Coast Guard finally broke through late in the second quarter. For the game, Skidmore outshot the Bears, 38-27, forced 22 turnovers, and limited Coast Guard to an inefficient 16-of-23 clearing mark.

In goal, sophomore Marc Gadbois again played a key defensive role by tallying 11 saves, two groundballs and one caused turnover to earn his fifth win of his career.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After pitching a defensive shutout for much of the first half, Skidmore jumped out to a 5-0 lead, fueled by goals from Joseph Killcommons, senior David Koffler and junior Jonathan Byrne in a 3-0 opening quarter. Senior Caleb Lawson and Killcommons added second-quarter tallies to extend the advantage to 5-0 with 4:17 remaining in the half.
• The Bears narrowly avoided a first-half shutout, breaking through with a goal with just three seconds left before intermission. Skidmore managed to save the first seven shots-on-goal from Coast Guard alongside 10 first half turnovers, prior to the score.
• Coast Guard struck first in the third quarter with a long-range goal at the 11:53 mark, but Skidmore responded with three straight goals from Killcommons, fellow freshman Conor Geier and Byrne to pull away and carry an 8-2 lead into the final period.
• Killcommons opened the fourth with a quick goal off an assist from Byrne, pushing the lead to 9-2 before the Bears answered with three unanswered goals to cut the deficit to 9-5 with 3:21 remaining.
• It proved too little, too late, as Killcommons added his final goal with 2:57 left to seal the 10-5 victory.

STANDOUT THOROUGHBREDS

• Killcommons scored a career-best five goals with one groundball.
• Byrne found the back of the net twice to go with one assist and five groundballs.
• Geier dished out a team-best two assists to go with one goal.
• Senior Jude Avelino Jr. tallied three caused turnovers with four groundballs.
• Sophomore Jake Weiner caused three turnovers to go with one assist.

UP NEXT
The Thoroughbreds take on Cortland next Saturday in a 1 PM matchup on the road.