Opening weekend for Thoroughbred winter athletes

The skaters are coming off a 16-8-2 season in which the team achieved is first-ever national ranking. The team opens at home at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, against St. Anselm College and will host St. Anselm College at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17.

The women's basketball team opens at home at 2 p.m. Saturday against SUNY Purchase in the first round of the 29th Skidmore Invitational. The consolation game is at noon Sunday, Nov. 18, followed by the championship game at 4 p.m. First-year men's basketball coach Luke Flockerzi takes the Thoroughbreds to Stevens Institute for the Stevens Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Skidmore plays Stevens at 7 p.m. Friday. The men play their first home game at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, against Southern Vermont.

Riding and men's and women's swimming and diving have already started competing. The riders are unbeaten in two shows, while the women's swimming and diving team is 2-1.

The fall season concluded last weekend with NCAA Division III national tournament play for volleyball and field hockey.

Volleyball advanced to the New York regional semifinal by beating Hunter College 3-0. The Thoroughbreds lost to regional champion Stevens Institute 3-0 in the regional semifinals to finish at 30-10. Lauren Dinsdale '10 and Erica Duncan '09 were selected AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans. The field hockey team advanced to the regional semifinals with a 2-0 win over Alvernia College. Skidmore then lost to regional champion and top-ranked Bowdoin College 1-0. Shaila DeLea '08 and Sarah Donahue '08 were selected to play in the senior all-star game.

On the national front, the golf team is ranked 15th nationally after going undefeated and winning the Liberty League championship this fall. The women's tennis team went 4-0 in the fall and is ranked 30th nationally. Women's soccer also concluded a successful fall season, advancing to the Liberty League tournament and finishing with an 11-6-2 record.