SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For the seventh time in nine seasons, the Skidmore College field hockey team were crowned champions of the Liberty League after defeating Rochester 2-1 at Wagner Park Saturday afternoon.
 
Skidmore has captured its ninth championship overall and seven in the Liberty League, improving its record to 10-0 at home in Liberty League playoff games. The Thoroughbreds record improves to 15-5 overall, clinching an automatic NCAA Tournament berth.
 
The Yellowjackets record now stands at 17-4, as they await a possible NCAA at-large berth, to be announced on Sunday at 11:30 p.m.
 
Kayla Rose and Gabby Hyman scored to lead the Thoroughbreds, who have won the last three games. Kelsey Denby and Miranda Davenport tallied the assists. Elizabeth Coughlin stood tall in goal, making three saves to earn her 14th win of the season.
 
Sayaka Abe scored a second-half goal to lead the Yellowjackets, who outshot the Thoroughbreds 8-7 in the contest, and earned eight penalty corners to Skidmore's three. Gabrielle Cantley made a save in 35 minutes of play in goal. Kiran Sundaram came on in relief of Cantley in the second half.
 
After an even first half between Skidmore and Rochester, Denby had the ball at the top of the arc, in the final minute, dribbling it down a couple meters before passing it off to Rose, who shot the ball off at a crisp angle to put it into in the back of the net with 37 seconds remaining.
 
Skidmore doubled up the contest in the 51st minute. Davenport carried it down the field on the near side off a turnover, sprinting past a few defenders to pass it off to Hyman in the penalty arc. Hyman took a few steps towards the center of the arc before beating a charging Sundaram high.
 
Rochester answered right away to cut the lead to 2-1 in the 61th minute. On the third consecutive penalty corner, Sayaka Abe received the ball, dribbling past two defenders on a great individual effort, beating Coughlin high.
 
The Yellowjackets ramped up the pressure in the game's final moments, nearly getting the tying goal late. In the 67th minute off a penalty corner, Alexis Wood found Maya Haigis, who launched a rising shot that beat a diving Coughlin, but Becca Halter jumped in to make the crucial defensive save, keeping the Skidmore lead.
 
Rochester had the ball in the game's final seconds after a late turnover, but was called for a foul as the clock eventually ran out and the Thoroughbreds mobbed the field in celebration.
 
Rose earned the 2016 Liberty League Tournament's Most Valuable Player award after leading Skidmore in scoring though the two matches. Davenport, Halter, Coughlin, Lamoreaux, and Marissa Folts were named to the All-Tournament team for the Thoroughbreds.
 
 
 
2016 Liberty League Field Hockey All-Tournament Team
 
Monica Feeley, Vassar
Cydney Conley, William Smith
 
Rochester
Maya Haigis, Rochester
Sayaka Abe, Rochester
Alexis Wood, Rochester
 
Kayla Rose, Skidmore - MVP
Miranda Davenport, Skidmore
Marissa Folts, Skidmore
Becca Halter, Skidmore
Krista Lamoreaux, Skidmore
Elizabeth Coughlin, Skidmore