POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Senior Lily Hudner delivered the game-winning goal as the Skidmore College women's lacrosse team secured a key 15-14 Liberty League victory on the road at Vassar on Wednesday evening.

The Thoroughbreds (7-7, 3-4 Liberty League) surged in the third quarter, outscoring the Brewers (5-6, 0-6 Liberty League) by a 5-2 margin to erase a halftime deficit, before netting the final two goals of the game late in the fourth to seal the win.

Playing a key role in the victory, senior Julia Cafasso scored a trio of goals in the second quarter to keep the Thoroughbreds within striking distance. Her fourth goal during the third marked her 100th career goal, making her just the 19th player in program history to reach the major career milestone.

In goal, sophomore Tatum Walsh recorded nine saves to earn her seventh career victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Skidmore opened the scoring just 40 seconds into the first quarter, as Lily Hudner found the back of the net on a solo effort.
• However, Vassar responded with four unanswered goals to take a 4-1 lead with 6:42 remaining.
• The Thoroughbreds closed the quarter strong, scoring three of the final four goals to trim the deficit to one, 5-4, heading into the second period. Junior Phoebe Ross struck off an assist from Cafasso, followed by a pair of goals from sophomore Hillary Noble.
• The Brewers opened the second period with three consecutive goals to double up Skidmore, 8-4, with 12:47 on the clock.
• Cafasso answered with three goals in a five-minute span, cutting the deficit to 9-7 with 5:13 remaining in the half.
• In the closing minutes, freshman Jaime Penner capitalized on a player-up opportunity to keep Skidmore within reach at 10-8 heading into intermission.
• Coming out of halftime, the Thoroughbreds erased the deficit by scoring three of the first four goals to tie the game at 11-11 with 6:35 remaining. Junior Charlotte Taylor scored just 46 seconds in, before freshman Lauren Hughey and Cafasso each converted on player-up chances.
• Skidmore continued its momentum, reclaiming the lead on a solo Hudner goal at the 6:11 mark, followed by Ross' second goal of the game off an assist from junior Annie Campbell to make it 13-11 with 4:38 left in the third.
• Vassar closed the quarter with a goal to cut the lead to one, then tied the game at 13-13 early in the fourth before retaking the lead with 9:56 remaining.
• The Thoroughbreds responded with the equalizer from Noble off an assist from Cafasso at the 8:44 mark, before Hudner delivered the game-winner on a free-position opportunity with 4:13 left in regulation.
• In the closing seconds, the Brewers had one final chance to force overtime after a turnover with 26 seconds remaining, but the shot sailed wide as Skidmore held on for the bounce-back road victory.

STANDOUT THOROUGHBREDS

• Cafasso led with four goals, two assists, five draw controls, two groundballs and one caused turnover.
• Noble finished with three goals and one assist.
• Hudner tallied three goals and one draw control.
• Ross recorded her third multi-goal game of the season.
• Hughey finished with one goal and one assist.
• Senior Brooke LaVallee tallied five draw controls, two caused turnovers and two groundballs.

UP NEXT
Skidmore returns to action next Friday with a road matchup at Rochester. Start time is set for 4 PM.