SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY- Williams Field Hockey (4-3) fell to #5 Skidmore College (9-1) 1-5 on Friday night.
Both teams came out strong, trading possession for the first fifteen minutes of the game. However, with a goal by Kelly Blackhurst, Skidmore gained control of the game, firing off two more goals in the first half. The Thoroughbred's aggressive offense led the Ephs 27-15 in shots and 15-13 in shots on goal. Skidmore also led Williams in penalty corners, earning 17 corners to the Ephs' 6.
Skidmore Junior Kelly Blackhurst led her team with four goals and one assist on the day. Blackhurst scored at 13:33 and 24:22 in the first half and added goals at 41:39 and 68:48 after the break. Dani DeGregory tallied the remaining goal for Skidmore at 29:24 off an assist from Blackhurst. Williams sophomore Lexie Brackenridge (Waylan, MA) was the lone Eph to get a shot past Skidmore goalie Haley McDougall who, combined with goalie Amy Beck tallied 12 saves for the game. Breckenridge scored from inside the box at 61:33 off an assist by Katie Jolin (Guilford, CT).
Williams goalie Ariana Spiliotes (Bethesda, MD) put in another strong 70 minutes in the cage, earning 9 saves on the game. Eph sophomore Jaclyn Porfilio (West Roxbury, MA) added a defensive stop in goal.
Williams "struggled a little in the first half," noted Coach Alix Barrale, adding that her team "had a nice surge offensively in the second to finally put one in. " The Ephs will use the weekend to recoup from Friday's game and will take the field again on Tuesday at 7pm against Hamilton College.
