Box Score

TROY, N.Y. - Reigning Liberty League Player of the Year Kelly Blackhurst had a goal and two assists to lead the #6 Skidmore College field hockey team to a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the Liberty League opener for both teams. The Engineers are now 2-2 overall, while the Thoroughbreds improve to 5-0.

Blackhurst set up Skidmore's second goal on a penalty corner and then put the visitors in front for good with a penalty stroke goal at 58:02. She added her third point of the game just 1:15 later when she registered her second assist of the contest.

For RPI, which twice took the lead in the game, freshman Angela Cascio (Wyndmoor, PA/Springside School) had two goals and sophomore Hannah Clough (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxborough Regional) made 19 saves. The loss was its first at home since the 2010 season as the 2011 Engineers were 9-0 on Harkness Field.

Skidmore jumped out to the lead when sophomore Sam Skott (Buskik, NY/Hoosick Falls) deflected a goal line pass from Dani DeGregory (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) just 4:14 in the first half. DeGregory started the play by driving down the right side and turning the corner, where she sent the ball to Skott, who was able to fight off a defender and get her stick on it.

The Engineers tied the score after the first half horn sounded when Cascio completed a penalty corner. Alissa Peterson (Gaithersburg, MD/Quince Orchard) had the initial shot, which was kicked out to Cascio, who found the back of the cage.

Cascio put Rensselaer in front four minutes into the second half when she spun around on loose ball and shot into an open goal. Skidmore's Molly Gile (Dover, NH/Dover) tied it at 41:57 when she deflected a Blackhurst shot past Clough. Peterson put RPI back in front six minutes later when she completed a penalty corner, sending a hard low shot against the backboard. Junior Sarah Krolus (Westminster, MD/Garrison Forest School) started the play and earned the secondary assist, while Jen Piselli (Branford, CT/Hamden Hall Country Day School) had the primary.

The Thoroughbreds answered with the next three goals, all within seven minutes. Sophomore Pauline Searles (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls) scored off a feed from Anna Wahl (Sterling, MA/The Bromfield School) at 52:36 to tie it and Blackhurst made it 4-3 with her penalty stroke goal, which found the bottom left of the goal. Ceilidh MacNeill's tally at 59:17 gave the visitors breathing room.

Skidmore held a 38-13 advantage in shots, including 25-8 on goal. Sophomore Haley McDougall (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) had five saves in the victory. The Thoroughbreds had a 20-12 edge in penalty corners.

RPI is right back in action on Sunday afternoon when it travels to New England College (2pm), while Skidmore hosts SUNY Cortland on Sunday at 1pm.