Teams earn postseason berths as fall season winds down

The sixth-ranked field hockey team clinched the Liberty League regular-season championship and top seed in the league tournament after a pair of league wins on the road last week. Senior Annie Rosencrans (Riverside, Conn.) had a goal and an assist in the Vassar victory, making her the 11 ^th player in program history to record 100 career points. In the 6-0 win at Union, sophomore Kelly Blackhurst(North River, N.Y.) tied a program record with 10 points on four goals and two assists, marking the second time she has accomplished that feat this season. The Thoroughbreds are 14-1 overall and finished a perfect 6-0 in league play. They are at Hartwick at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Volleyball clinched a spot in the Liberty League, going a perfect 3-0 in league play this weekend. Junior Mallory Mendelsohn (San Francisco, Calif.) averaged 32.3 assists and nine digs in the three victories, while sophomore Elise Finnerty (Southampton, N.Y.) had 33 kills and 12 blocks. Senior Kelley Vershbow (Washington, D.C.) had a team-high 35 kills and junior Sam Friedman (Los Angeles, Calif.) averaged 13 digs per match. Skidmore is 21-8 overall and 9-3 in league play. The team hosts the Skidmore Invitational this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and 29, at the Williamson Sports Center.

Women's soccer won its only game of the week, defeating Clarkson in double overtime to secure a spot in the Liberty League tournament. Sophomore Christine Bellotti (Medfield, Mass.) scored in the 103 ^rd minute to earn the hard-fought victory for the Thoroughbreds as senior Meghan Sleezer (Gloversville, N.Y.) recorded her seventh shutout of the season. They improved to 11-4 overall and 5-2 in league play and return to action Wednesday, Oct. 26, at RPI.

Men's soccer went 1-1 in a pair of league games this week. Skidmore suffered a 2-0 loss to RPI on Wednesday before coming back with a 1-0 win over Clarkson on Saturday. Senior Matt Wolff (Minneapolis, Minn.) scored the game-winner and classmate Nick Peterson made four saves for his sixth shutout of the season. The Thoroughbreds are now 6-10-1 overall and 2-4-1 in league play; they wrap up the season Saturday, Oct. 29, at Union.

The riding team opened its 2011-2012 campaign at home this past weekend. The team dominated the Open Over Fences division by winning each section with senior co-captains Kelly Campbell (Cohoes, N.Y.) and Chelsea Jones (Kailua, Hawaii) along with freshman Jasmine Lai (Causeway Bay, Hong Kong) all earning blue ribbons. Skidmore is at Hartwick this weekend.

Men's and women's swimming and diving opened the season last Saturday against St. Lawrence. The men notched a 183-102 win, while the women suffered a tough 162-132 defeat. For the men, junior Jesse Adler (Chappaqua, N.Y.) was a winner in the 100 back and 200 IM, and a member of the winning 200 medley relay along with sophomore Taylor Best (Brentwood, Tenn.) and freshmen Nick Sauerbrunn (Avon, Conn.) and Logan Jones (Nashville, Tenn.). Senior Doug Pilawa (Chardon, Ohio) won both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives with NCAA qualifying scores. On the women's side, freshman Catherine King (Wellesley, Mass.) was a double-winner in the 50 free and 100 free, while junior Kristen Stearns (Torrington, Conn.) completed the sweep in diving, winning on both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. Both teams host SUNY Potsdam, Saturday at 1 p.m.

Golf wrapped up its fall season with a fourth place finish at the Manhattanville/NYU Fall Classic. Sophomore Scott Pinder (Saskatoon, SK) was the top finished for Skidmore, finishing tied for sixth with a 79-79-158. ~ By Cody Berschwinger