SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Sophomore attack Cas Szwajkowski had five goals and two assists, all in the first half, to lead the Skidmore College women's lacrosse team to a 19-2 win over Mount Holyoke College Wednesday evening at Wachenheim Field. It was the season opener for the Thoroughbreds, while the Lyons are 1-1.
Szwajkowski led a list of nine Skidmore goal scorers. She also had a ground ball and caused turnover. A pair of rookies made the most of their first collegiate games. Shelby Boland scored four goals, while Sophia Hagstromer had three goals and two assists. Emily Hirsch added two goals, two assists, and four draw controls.
Junior attack Deyscha Smith (Boston, Mass./Academy of the Pacific Rim) and Julianna Rankin (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) scored for Mount Holyoke. Kaitlin Braz (Tolland, Conn./East Catholic) had four draw controls, two ground balls, and a caused turnover.
Skidmore set the tone early with three goals in the first 2:27 of the game. Junior attacker Natalie LaBeau (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes) opened the scoring at 28:15. Szwajkowski set-up an Abby Sanford (Avon, Conn./Millbrook School) goal at 27:33 and Szwajkowski made it 3-0 from Hirsch at 27:33. Szwajkowski upped the lead to 4-0 from LaBeau at 23:51.
Rankin got Mount Holyoke on the board at 21:51. The Thoroughbreds rattled off the next 11 goals to put the game away. Szwajkowski scored three straight for a 7-1 lead and then assisted on a Hirsch goal at 12:03 for an 8-1 advantage. Hirsch scored the ninth goal and then Boland found the net three straight times for a 12-1 lead. Junior defenser Gianna Muscari (Millbrook, N.Y./Millbrook School) closed out the half with a free position goal at :53.
Hagstromer scored the first two goals of the second half, before Smith got Mount Holyoke's second of the game at 15:55. Hagstromer, Amanda Cagnassola, Louisa Vincent, and Shelby Boland rounded out the Skidmore scoring.
The Thoroughbreds had 33-20 shot advantage and won 14 of 22 draws. Sophomore goalie Caroline Kenlon (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) had six saves over 55:01 to earn the win in net. Classmate Nicki Eckert (Glen Ridge, NJ/Glen Ridgehad) had four saves over the final 4:59. Sophomore keeper Mia Wysocki (Longmeadow, Mass./Longmeadow) was credited with five saves over the first 30:00 for the Lyons. Senior goalkeeper Clarissa Leight (Austin, Texas/Liberal Arts & Science Academy) had four saves over the final 30:00.
Skidmore opens a four-game road trip on March 3 at Babson College in a 3 p.m. contest, while the Lyons also compete on Saturday, traveling to Bridgewater for a 4 p.m. matchup.
