Posted by Katie Peverada
The Liberty League announced on Monday their annual end of season honors, and Skidmore's team success was reflected on the lists. There are fourteen different athletes representing Skidmore, including one Player of the Year and eight First Team honors.
Volleyball: Corinne Palmer '14 topped off her stellar Skidmore career by earning a spot on the All-Liberty League First Team for the second time. Last year, Palmer was named both the Player of the Year and an All-American, in addition to her First Team honors. Palmer's sophomore year she was on the Second Team. Palmer has also been on the Liberty League All-Academic Team every year she was eligible. She led the team in blocks, kills and, hitting percentage.
Field Hockey: The field hockey team had five members earn Liberty League honors, including player of the year Kelly Blackhurst '14. Blackhurst was also named the Offensive Player of the Year and received First Team honors for the fourth time in her career. Blackhurst, who netted 65 points (26 G, 13) is Skidmore and the Liberty League's all-time leading scorer. Blackhurst was also selected as the 2013 Longstreth/NFHCA Division III North Atlantic Region Player of the Year for the second time in her career.
Jenn Hanks '16 was also selected to the All-Liberty League First team because of her stellar defensive work. Hanks led the League with seven defensive saves, netted five goals, three assists and earned Defensive Player of the Week twice this season. Hanks was an All-League Honorable Mention last season.
Krista Lamoreaux '17 rounded out the Thoroughbreds on the First Team on the strength of her strong two-way play. Lamoreaux netted six goals and four assists and was second on the team amongst field players in minutes played and was fourth on the team with 22 shots on goal.
Dani Degregory '16 led the conference with 15 assists and was second with 18 goals, earning her a spot on the All-Liberty League Second Team, adding to her strong freshman campaign last year in which she was voted an All-League Honorable Mention.
Sam Skott '15, this year's Liberty League Tournament MVP, netted a career-high 13 goals and four assists for 30 points, which was also third on the team. Skott scored the game-winning goals in the semifinals and final.
Women's Soccer: The women's soccer team had five members earn end of year recognition from the Liberty League, including two on the First Team.
Christine Bellotti '14 has three game-winning goals, trying her for third in the League, and finished second on the team with five goals to earn a spot on the First Team. Bellotti, who has started every game for the Thoroughbreds this season, led the team in shots with 42.
Arena Manning '16 leads the Thoroughbreds in scoring, netting five goals and one assist for a team-leading 11 points. Manning's three game-winning goals tied for third in the conference.
Gab Lawrence '14, named to the Second Team has backstopped the Thoroughbreds all season long, notching nine shutouts along the way to make it 19 in her career. Lawrence's goals against average (0.48) and save percentage (.869) were second and third in the League, respectively.
Kelsey Russell '14, who anchors the Skidmore defense and has started all 17 games this season, earned a spot on the Second Team.
Morgan Governale '16 received honorable mention for her part in contributing to both offense and defense. Governale started all 17 games, scoring two goals and adding one assist while also helping the tight Skidmore defense.
Men's Soccer: The men's soccer team had two players earn All-Liberty League First Team honors and two players receive honorable mention in a season that saw them return to the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Adam Beek '15 earned his second-straight First Team selection after registering 16 points (6 G, 4 A). Beek also added four game-winning goals for the Thoroughbreds, tied for second in the League.
Brock Bakewell '15, the team's leading goal-scorer with 12, also received a First Team nod. Bakewell's 12 goals were tied for first, and five of those goals were game-winners, also tied for first.
Andrew Blake '14 led a Skidmore defense that only allowed 0.91 goals per game and received honorable mention for his efforts. Blake also tallied one goal and one assist.
Adebare Oyeniyi '17 also received honorable mention, netting two goals and assisting one other in his freshman campaign. One of Oyeniyi's tallies was a game-winner.