Fall sports prep for Liberty League playoffs

Lindsay Schmitt '11

Field hockey used a 2-0 week to clinch the regular-season Liberty League title.  With the 5-1 victory over Utica College, the Thoroughbreds clinched the top seed in the Liberty League playoffs and will host Union College at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4. Last Wednesday, junior Katie Potter (Rumson, N.J.) scored the lone goal and classmate Liz Catinella (Sudbury, Mass.) made three saves in a 1-0 victory at Hartwick. Saturday, senior Elise Britt (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) scored three goals and had an assist in the win over Utica to improve to 14-3 on the season.

Women's soccer played nationally ranked Ithaca College to a 1-1 tie Saturday.  Sophomore goalie Meghan Sleezer (Gloversville, N.Y.) made 19 saves and freshman Kelsey Yam (Longmeadow, Mass.) scored for Skidmore.  The Thoroughbreds are the second seed in the Liberty League tournament and will host Hamilton College at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Volleyball finished 2-2 this weekend at the Skidmore Invitational.  The Thoroughbreds defeated Plattsburgh 3-0 and Montclair St. 3-1, but lost two hard-fought matches against Cortland, 3-2, and New Paltz, 3-1. Senior Lauren Dinsdale (Harrington Park, N.J.) was selected to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 30.25 digs per match and junior Meredith Palmer (Montvale, N.J.) averaged 14 kills and 5.5 blocks per match.  Skidmore will travel to Vassar College for the Liberty League Tournament Saturday, Nov. 7.

Men's soccer finished 1-1 this past week, defeating Southern Vermont, 3-0, and falling 4-1 to Union in the season finale.  Junior Doug Yeates (Richmond, Vt.) scored a goal in both games and senior Chris Ford (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and sophomore Lucas Millington (West Hartford, Conn.) combined to make one save in the shutout effort.  The Thoroughbreds finished the 2009 campaign with a 7-9 record.

Women's swimming and diving defeated Potsdam this past weekend, while the men dropped their meet.  Senior Sonia Segal-Smith (Needham, Mass.) was a triple winner on the women's side, finishing first in the 200 free, 500 free, and 100 breast while classmate Kelsey Carson (Stamford, Conn.) won the 200 IM and finished second in the 500 free.  On the men's side, sophomore Doug Pilawa (Chardon, Ohio) won the 3-meter diving event with an NCAA qualifying score of 286.00 and senior John Tyler Norton (Chappaqua, N.Y.) won the 100 breast and finished second in the 50 free.  Skidmore will host Vassar at 1 p.m. Saturday. ~ By Cody Berschwinger

Tags: men's soccer, volleyball, thoroughbred athletics, women's soccer, field hockey, men's and women's diving