Thoroughbred teams gear up for Liberty League playoffs

Three Skidmore teams will travel this weekend to compete in the Liberty League Championships for field hockey, women?s soccer, and volleyball on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7 and 8.

Field hockey rides an eight-game win streak into playoffs, which are being hosted by St. Lawrence University. Skidmore will face Union College, whom they defeated in a 1-0 overtime thriller earlier in the season, in the first round at 2 p.m. Nov. 7.

The Thoroughbreds, hungry after an overtime-loss in the championship game last season, are led by sophomore forward Christine Kemp, who is tops in the league in scoring with 15 goals and 12 assists for 42 points.

Skidmore also has one of the top-ranked defenses in the league, led by junior defender Casey Tang and sophomore goalie Liz Catinella. The Thoroughbreds combined for nine shutouts on the season, breaking Skidmore?s previous record of eight.

The women?s soccer team will also face Union in the first round of the playoffs at top-seed William Smith at 11 a.m. Nov. 7. The women posted two crucial wins over Clarkson and St. Lawrence in the last weekend of conference play to gain the tournament?s third seed.

Senior Rachael Sushner leads a tough squad into the postseason after receiving Liberty League Co-Offensive Performer of the Week honors in the last week of the season. The midfielder has nine goals on the year, including five game-winners.

Freshman goalkeeper Meghan Sleezer ranks second in the conference with 4.38 saves-per-game and 0.44 shutouts-per-game to lead the Skidmore defense, which has allowed just two goals in its last seven games.

Volleyball takes a 23-9 record into conference championships where the team will face host Union in their first match at 4 p.m. Nov. 7. The Thoroughbreds posted a 3-1 record at the Skidmore Classic where junior libero Lauren Dinsdale was named to the all-tournament team.

Dinsdale leads the conference in digs (6.85 dpg) and ranks third in service aces with .38 per game. Seniors Erica Duncan and Murray Koch hold stand at first and second in kills in the Liberty League with 4.55 and 3.61 kills per game, respectively.

Sophomore Becca Ormsby also leads the conference in assists with 11.02 assists per game. ~By Sytiva Seitz