SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Skidmore College men's lacrosse team opened Liberty League play with a statement victory, defeating No. 20 RPI, 16-12, at Wachenheim Field on Saturday afternoon.

Led by a dominant four-goal, three-assist performance from sophomore Michael Aiello, the Thoroughbreds (7-0, 1-0 Liberty League) rose to the challenge and pulled away down the stretch, outscoring the Engineers (7-3, 0-1 Liberty League) 6-2 over the final 20 minutes in an otherwise back-and-forth contest.

For the game, Skidmore won the possession battle after forcing more turnovers, 19-to-15, and finishing with more faceoff wins, 17-to-14, to secure the program's first victory over RPI since 2013, and the first under head coach Joe Martin.

In goal, sophomore Marc Gadbois made ten saves for his ninth career victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Engineers opened with a quick 2-0 lead, but Skidmore responded with three of the next four goals to even the score at 3-3 with 5:31 remaining in the first quarter. Michael Aiello got the Thoroughbreds on the board off an assist from Caleb Lawson at 12:02, followed by goals from freshman Conor Geier and sophomore Jake Weiner.
• RPI regained the lead with a late goal in the first, before senior David Koffler answered early in the second off a pass from Aiello to spark a five-goal quarter for Skidmore.
• The Thoroughbreds took their first lead of the game during a three-goal run from freshman Joseph Killcommons, Lawson, and Koffler to go up 7-5 with 7:01 left in the half, before the Engineers added a late goal to make it 7-6 at the break.
• Out of halftime, both teams traded goals as Geier scored off an assist from Aiello and Aiello added another, but RPI pulled even at 10-10 with 5:31 remaining in the third.
• Skidmore closed the third with back-to-back goals from Koffler and Aiello, and Aiello opened the fourth with another score to extend the lead to 13-10.
• The Engineers responded with two straight goals to cut the deficit to one, but Killcommons halted the comeback with two goals in a seven-second span to restore a three-goal cushion.
• With the outcome at hand, sophomore Jake Weiner added the final goal with 1:37 remaining to cap off the win.

STANDOUT THOROUGHBREDS

• Aiello finished with four goals and three assists.
• Lawson tallied a pair of goals to go with three assists.
• Killcommons and Koffler each recorded a hat trick of goals.
• Weiner finished with two goals and one assist.
• Senior Jude Avelino Jr. forced a team-high four RPI turnovers.
• Sophomore Michael Dearborn added on with three caused turnovers.

UP NEXT
Skidmore heads out on the road Wednesday to take on Trinity (CT) in a 5 PM matchup.