SCHENECTADY, NY – Junior
Ashley Brown (Plainville, CT) scored both Union goals as the 19th-ranked Dutchwomen defeated Skidmore, 2-1, in Liberty League women's soccer action at College Park Field. The Dutchwomen, winners of three straight, improve to 11-3 overall and 3-2 in Liberty League play, while the Thoroughbreds drop to 7-5-2 and 2-3 in conference action.
Brown put the Dutchwomen on the board in the 11th minute with a header off a corner by
Rachel Schneidman (Chappaqua, NY). She put the Dutchwomen up, 2-0, in the 69th minute with another header, this time off a throw by
Bridget Duffy (Albany, NY). The pair of goals marks the first for Brown in a game since October 21, 2005, when she tallied two at Clarkson.
Brown's defensive efforts in the 14th minute kept Skidmore off the board in the first half. A low corner kick by Jessica Morton (Fairfield, CT) hung around the front of the net, bouncing between several Skidmore attackers before Brown cleared the ball past midfield.
Chelsea Hargis (East Lyme, CT) served up a corner in the 41st minute, which Skidmore goaltender Liza Mills (Setauket, NY) came out to play. The ball escaped Mills' hands and rolled out to
Caitlin O'Donnell (Hampden, MA) who fired at the net. Anna Cerio (Alfred, NY) was there to block the shot with her head, and Union was unable to convert on the ensuing corner kick.
In the 48th minute,
Katie McLean (Newton, MA) crossed a long shot from about 15 yards out, but Mills dove to her left to make the save.
Skidmore rallied to cut Union's lead to 2-1 just over a minute later when Cerio headed in her third goal of the season, connecting with a corner by sophomore Marianna Grigorov (Ithaca, NY).
Melissa McDonald (Lynnfield, MA) made three saves in the win, while Mills stopped six Dutchwomen shots.
Union held a 13-7 shot advantage in the game, and maintained a 6-3 lead in corner kicks.
Union is back in action on Sunday in a 1 p.m. game against Hartwick at College Park Field. Skidmore returns to Liberty League play on Saturday, October 20, in a 3 p.m. game against RPI.