By Skidmore Athletics
The 12th ranked Skidmore College field hockey team will have the chance to defend its Liberty League championship after a 4-1 semifinal win over Vassar College on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Wagner Park.
Dani DeGregory ’16 led the Thoroughbreds with her team record and national leading 33rd goal of the season. She broke the previous mark set in 2013 by Kelly Blackhurst ‘15. DeGregory is also one point off Blackhurst's team season point record of 79.
Skidmore (16-3) has won nine straight games and will be playing for its second straight and sixth Liberty League championship in the past seven years.
The Thoroughbreds, seeded second, will host third seed William Smith, a 3-2 winner over top seed University of Rochester on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.
Home field won’t hurt the team's chances. Skidmore has won twenty-five straight overall home Liberty League games since 2009. The team is 10-1 in Liberty League playoff games at Wagner Park, with ten straight wins beginning in 2007.
Against Vassar (11-7), Melanie Webb ’15 opened the scoring off a rebound and scramble in front at 11:13, with Sofia San Marco ’15 getting the assist. Sam Revera ’15 made it 2-0 off a rebound at 28:27. DeGregory closed out the first half, scoring when she dribbled in from fifteen yards out, and fired a shot home for her record-setting goal at 32:58.
The Brewers got on the board in the second half when Storm Sideleau scored her third goal of the season off a well played cross from Bianca Zarrella at 44:56. Revera closed out the scoring with her second goal of the game and sixth of the season at 45:25.
Skidmore outshot Vassar 25-6 and had a 9-3 corner edge. Amy Beck ’15 stopped two shots for the Thoroughbreds, while Amreen Bhasin stayed busy with nine saves.
The Thoroughbreds last beat William Smith 3-1 on Sept. 26 in Geneva.