Postseason play, season openers highlight upcoming weekend

Skidmore's ice hockey team will host Babson at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, in an ECAC East quarterfinal matchup at the Saratoga Springs City Rink. The Thoroughbreds earned the No. 4 seed and home ice after posting an 8-8-3 league record. The SGA and Office of Student Affairs are funding 300 free tickets to Skidmore students. Tickets are priced at $5 for general admission and $3 for students. Tickets will be available in Case Center from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 23 and 24. The free tickets will be distributed one per student with ID. When they are gone, additional student tickets will be available for $3. Tickets remaining after the presale and tickets turned back by Babson will be on sale at the rink the day of the game, starting at 6 p.m. Free shuttle buses to the rink will begin leaving Case Center at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. 

Men's basketball clinched its second consecutive Liberty League playoff berth with Friday night's victory over St. Lawrence. Skidmore will face No. 2 seed Rensselaer at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25. All tournament games will be played at Hobart, the top seed, which will host Hamilton at 8 p.m. The winners of each game are scheduled to play at 3 p.m. Saturday for the Liberty League Championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. The Thoroughbreds finished the regular season with a 16-9 overall and 10-4 league record, setting a program record for league wins and tying a school record for overall wins.

Men's and women's swimming and diving is competing at the UNYSCSA championships in Rochester this weekend. Skidmore athletes will attempt to meet the qualifying standards and improve on times to compete at the NCAA Division III Championships.

Men's lacrosse will open the 2011 campaign with a home contest this Saturday against Babson. The game will be played at Wachenheim field and is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. The Thoroughbreds are coming off a 2010 season in which they reach the Liberty League Championship.

Men's tennis will also be in action at home this weekend after opening the spring season with a 9-0 win over Union last Saturday. Skidmore will host defending Liberty League champions Vassar at 1 p.m. Saturday. ~ By Cody Berschwinger