Saratoga Springs, N.Y.- A three goal first-half from the hosts sunk the Clarkson University Women's Soccer team as they dropped a league matchup to Skidmore 3-1, on a soggy Wednesday evening in the Hudson River Valley.
The Golden Knights now sit at 2-4-2 overall, 0-2 in the Liberty League. The team returns to Hantz field on Saturday, looking to end their four-game skid vs Union.
Skidmore struck early, just over seven minutes into the game. A corner swung in by Ellianna Caporusso was met in the air by Jillian Foley who did well to place a controlled header over the packed six-yard box and into the top right corner of the goal for 1-0. The hosts would add another less than ten minutes later after a through ball sent a Thoroughbred attacker in on a 1v1 with Isabelle Wood. The ball was poked past the onrushing Wood, glancing off the inside of the left post before running across the entire goal line but not crossing. The loose ball was chased down by Caporusso and centered to Abby Lewis in front of the net for a tap-in.
Lillian Gillett provided the first real chance of the game for Clarkson as the midfielder collected a bouncing pass just outside of the 18-yard box. A right footed touch lead to a low right footed shot from the senior, but the ball skipped just wide of the left post and over the touchline for a Skidmore goal kick. Brooke Everest forced Avery Rodgers in net for the Thoroughbreds, into her first action of the game in the 27th minute. The junior managed to latch on to a forward pass on the left wing and evade two defenders eventually getting the ball back onto her left foot and connecting on a shot that was headed into the roof of the net before being caught by Rodgers to preserve the two goal lead.
Skidmore added a third in the 40th minute as Alexandra Verna cleaned up a spilled save in the box following a long-range effort. The hosts nearly added a fourth before halftime where Wood did well to parry away a shot from the right side of the penalty box that seemed headed for the top left corner of the goal. The rebound fell right to the feet of another Thoroughbred attacker who seemed to have another open goal opportunity but her shot was blocked off the line by Callie Abel to keep the lead at three headed into the break.
Jamie Dahlgard and Gillett both found room for shots in the opening five minutes of the second half, however, both efforts were from about 20 yards out and proved to be easy to collect for Rodgers after skipping on the wet turf.
Into the 66th minute, the Golden Knights would get their best chance of the game so far following a free kick from inside their attacking third. A ball floated in from Julia Tylar landed at the foot of Gabrielle Cyganick who just missed a solid connection with the ball resulting in a tame effort from the six yard line that was again collected by Rodgers.
As the game and rainy weather progressed, neither team was able to produce any clear-cut chances with both sides locked in a deadlock in the midfield. That remained true until the 88th minute when Clarkson was able to construct a breakthrough. A corner sent in by Tylar found the head of Callie Abel whose shot rebounded off the crossbar, falling right to Everest in the middle of the box where she was able to get just enough of her right foot around the shot to force it over the goal line for 3-1.
Clarkson managed to hold an advantage in shots (15-7) and shots on goal (9-5), while Skidmore earned four corners to the Golden Knights' two. Wood was credited with two saves, Rodgers with eight as both goalies went the full course of the contest. Gillett and Everest both registered three shots on goal followed by Cyganick with two on frame, leading a Clarkson side that featured full 90 minute performances from seven players.
