Posted by Skidmore Athletics
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The No. 5 ranked Skidmore College field hockey team used a six-goal outburst in the second half to defeat St. Lawrence 8-1 and advance to the Liberty League Championship.
The Thoroughbreds improve to 17-1, extending their home winning streak to 28 games, and will host the winner of Friday night's William Smith-RPI match-up. The Saints end their season with a 9-8 record.
St. Lawrence got the scoring started early as Courtney Cartier deflected Erika Swits' shot from the top of the circle past Skidmore goalie Haley McDougall '15 for her fifth of the season.
Ceilidh MacNeill '13 tied it up at 20:46 when she redirected Hilary Cranston's '13 pass from outside the circle past Nicole Matos. Lauren Tobias '12 gave Skidmore the lead in the 30th minute, taking a pass from Annie Rosencrans '12 and sending it home for her 14th of the season.
After leading 2-1 at the half, the Thoroughbred offense came alive in the second half. Kelly Blackhurst '14 blasted a shot from the top of the circle to make it 3-1 and then assisted of MacNeill's second goal of the game at the 43:14 mark. Blackhurst tallied her second of the game and 24th of the season in the 48th minute to make it 5-1. Skidmore went on a run late as MacNeill, Caylyn Sullivan '12 and Sam Skott '15 all scored in a 2:10 span to close it out and give the Thoroughbreds an 8-1 win.
McDougall finished with three saves to earn the win and Annie Weis '14 added a defensive save for Skidmore. For the Saints, Matos stopped 14 shots, while Ali Ferenczy and Julia Croyle each had a defensive save.
The Thoroughbreds outshot St. Lawrence 30-5 and held a 14-7 advantage in penalty corners.