Posted by Skidmore Athletics
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kelly Blackhurst '14 tied a program record with 10 points to lead the 5th-ranked Skidmore College field hockey team to a 7-3 win over RPI in Saturday's Liberty League opener at Thoroughbred Field.
Blackhurst scored four goals and had two assists, becoming the fifth player in school history with 10 points in a game and first since Emily Clark [class year?] in 2005.
The Thoroughbreds improve to 5-0, improving [new word? Repetitive] their home winning streak to 21 games.
Blackhurst got Skidmore on the board one minute in when she took a crossing pass from Pauline Searles ‘15 and beat RPI keeper Briana Earle. Just over seven minutes later, Lauren Tobias ‘12 scored on a crossing pass from Jackie Slocombe ‘12 to make it 2-0.
The Engineers cut the lead to one at the 24:41 mark on Alissa Peterson's third goal of the season, a blast from the top of the circle. But less than a minute later, Blackhurst pushed the lead back to two when she put home a rebound for her second of the game. The Thoroughbreds made it 4-1 with less than a minute left in the half when Sam Skott ‘15 redirected a cross from Blackhurst for her second goal of the season.
Blackhurst opened the scoring in the second half as well, beating a defender one-on-one and scoring from the center of the circle to make it 5-1. Tori Elliot cut the lead to 5-2 at the 44:43 mark, taking a pass from Kierstan Ryan and beating the keeper for her first goal of the season.
Exactly one minute later, the Thoroughbreds answered back when Ceilidh MacNeill ‘13 redirected a shot from Blackhurst for her first goal of the season. Skidmore capped off its scoring at the 52:23 mark when Sam Revera ‘15 fed Blackhurst in front of the goal and she put it home for her fourth of the game and ninth of the season.
The Engineers were able to add another score with eight seconds remaining as Liana Viaggio scored off a corner to make it 7-3. Peterson and Sarah Krolus assisted on the goal.
Freshman goalkeeper Haley McDougall earned the win for the Thoroughbreds, making two stops in 67:43 of action.
Skidmore held a 15-7 advantage on penalty corners and outshot the Engineers, 27-6.