SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Skidmore College women's soccer team will kick off its 2026 campaign with a challenging season opener at No. 13 Swarthmore tomorrow afternoon at 4 PM, marking the first leg of a two-game road trip that concludes with a matchup against Widener on Saturday at 3 PM.

A REWIND OF 2025
The Thoroughbreds finished last season with a 7-6-4 overall record and a 4-3-2 mark in conference play to earn the fourth seed and a second-consecutive playoff appearance. In the postseason, Skidmore hosted Ithaca in the First Round of the Liberty League Tournament, where its season ultimately came to an end.

THE SCHEDULE AHEAD
Following the season-opening road trip, the Thoroughbreds will host SUNY Oneonta on Sept. 12 for the home opener at noon before jumping right into Liberty League action with a road matchup at Clarkson on Sept. 16.

Other home games include St. Lawrence for the conference home opener on Sept. 26, No. 10 Williams on Sept. 30, RPI for the annual Stable Game on Oct. 7, Bard for Senior Day on Oct. 17, and RIT for the regular-season finale on Oct. 31.

The First Round of the Liberty League Tournament is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 3, with the semifinals and championship to follow that same weekend on Friday, Nov. 6, and Sunday, Nov. 8, respectively.

KEY RETURNERS
Skidmore returns an experienced and talented veteran cast led by senior Abby Lewis, who was named to the United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Region Third Team as well as the All-Liberty League First Team after finishing with a team-best nine goals and one assist. Lewis also finished second in the conference in goals scored. Fellow senior Ellianna Caporusso earned All-Liberty League Second Team honors last season after finishing third in the conference with five assists in addition to scoring one goal.

On the defensive side of the ball, junior Olivia Chandler leads the way after also earning USC All-Region Third Team and All-Liberty League First Team honors. Chandler accumulated 1,300 minutes on the pitch, leading a defensive unit that surrendered 1.41 goals per game while recording four shutouts and allowing one goal or fewer in 12 contests. Chandler also contributed offensively with a goal and two assists.

THE NEWCOMERS
The Thoroughbreds welcome nine newcomers to the program for 2026, including eight freshmen and one sophomore addition.

PROGRAM HISTORY
Skidmore has made seven all-time appearances in the NCAA Tournament, with the most recent coming in 2024. The program has boasted four United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and two CSC Academic All-Americans®.

Entering her 16th season at the helm, head coach Lacey Walsh boasts a 106-93-32 overall record (.528) and a 47-51-21 mark in conference play (.483), along with three NCAA Tournament appearances. Walsh became the second coach in program history to eclipse the 100-win milestone last season.

FROM HEAD COACH LACEY WALSH
"We feel really good about the work we've put in throughout preseason. We have strong leadership across the roster and a lot of valuable experience returning to our lineup. Our rookies are understanding our system more and more each day, and the group has created a culture that is both competitive and supportive. We're excited for the challenge of opening against a highly ranked opponent and for the opportunity to get a true sense of where we are as a team."