3 fall teams ready for post-season play

Skidmore's fall athletic teams saw the regular season close Saturday with three teams qualifying for conference playoffs. This past weekend also marked the start of the regular season for two winter sports, with ice hockey and men's and women's swimming and diving opening their schedules.

Kelly Blackhurst ’14, Sam Skott ’15 and Dani DeGregory ’16 all registered multi-point games in field hockey’s dominant 9-4 win over Stevens Tech. Blackhurst recorded season-highs with four goals and nine points, Skott added two goals and two assists for a season-high six points and DeGregory chipped in two goals. The Thoroughbreds completed the regular season with a record of 14-3, including a 5-1 record in the Liberty League. They host Vassar College at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, in the Liberty League semifinal.

Women’s soccer completed its regular season, notching wins against RPI and Nazareth College. Arena Manning ’16 netted her team-high third game-winning goal of the season in 1-0 shutout of RPI and Morgan Governale ’15, Emily Saliterman ’17 and Wray Gabel ’16 all tallied in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Nazareth College. Gab Lawrence ’14 made three saves for her ninth shutout of the season in the RPI contest. The Thoroughbreds welcome RIT at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, for the Liberty League semifinal.

Men’s soccer regular season ended with a 2-1 setback in overtime against Union College. Adam Beek ’15 scored the Thoroughbreds lone goal with a superb free kick. The team will take on RPI in the Liberty League semifinal Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Volleyball hosted the 2013 Skidmore Invitational in its final tournament of the season. In the opening match, the team battled back from 2-1 deficit to win 3-2 against Kean University. The Thoroughbreds were shut out 3-0 by Fredonia and SUNY New Paltz in their two matches on Saturday. Corinne Palmer ’14 earned All-Tournament honors, registering 17 kills, nine digs and five blocks against Kean, 10 kills and five digs against Fredonia and 11 kills and five digs against New Paltz.Caption goes here

Men’s hockey opened its season with an 11-1 rout of SUNY Canton. Nine different players scored goals for the Thoroughbreds and seven players had multi-point nights. Aaron Beck ’14 produced two goals and two assists and Tony Giacin ’14 contributed two goals. The team plays it home opener 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, against the University of New England before taking on the University of Southern Maine at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. Friday's game is the team’s annual “Pack the Rink” game at Saratoga City Rink.

Men’s and women’s swimming and diving opened their season with meets against St. Lawrence University and SUNY Potsdam. On the women’s side, Catherine King ’15 placed first in seven events over the two meets and Erin Donovan ’17 earned five first-place finishes.  Bailey Best ’17 was the men’s top performer against St. Lawrence, placing first in the three events. Nick Sauerbrunn ’15 finished first in two events against Potsdam, winning 1000 Free and teaming with Lyle Stephenson ’15, Tim Brodsky ’14 and Gabe Salitan-Alvarez ’17 to win the 400 Free Relay. The Thoroughbreds host Vassar College at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. ~ By Dan St.-Jacques