The Skidmore College and St. Lawrence University men's soccer teams advanced to the Liberty League Championships tournament final with victories at Hamilton College's cold and snowy Love Field on Nov. 3.
No. 4 seed Skidmore upset top-seeded and nationally ranked Hamilton 2-1 in the first semifinal. Third seed St. Lawrence eased past No. 2 seed and nationally ranked Hobart College 3-1 in the second semifinal. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 4, at noon.
St. Lawrence (10-5-2 overall) will play in its fifth straight league tournament final. The Saints -- ranked 10th in the coaches Northeast regional poll -- have won three league tournament crowns in four years. Skidmore (15-4-1) will make its first appearance in a league final. The Thoroughbreds -- No. 7 in the region -- are now 1-2 in league tournament contests.
Skidmore grabbed a 1-0 lead against the No. 20 Continentals in the 27th minute when Van Haskell '07 blasted a penalty kick after Hamilton was called for a hand-ball violation in the box. Haskell leads the Thoroughbreds with 12 goals.
The Continentals (11-3-1) evened the score in the 60th minute. Brian Marcantonio '08 sent the ball towards the goal and the keeper came off his line to catch it. The ball squirted through the keeper's arms and landed at the feet of league Player of the Year Greg Rogan '07, who put it in the back of the net for his ninth goal this year. Rogan is Hamilton's career leader in goals with 30.
Colin Minte '07 broke the tie just more than 20 minutes later. The Continentals cleared a Skidmore throw-in that landed deep in Hamilton's zone, but the ball went to Minte, who settled the ball and lofted it over the keeper's hand just below the crossbar. Minte has seven goals this year. Jake Densen '08 made 10 saves for the Thoroughbreds. Trevor Clarkson '09 stopped four shots for the Continentals. Skidmore's win was just its fourth in 26 games against Hamilton.
Paul LaMarca '09 scored a goal and assisted on another in the first six minutes for St. Lawrence. Axel Galeano '07 fired a shot that the keeper couldn't corral and LaMarca pounced on the loose ball just 1:34 into the first half. LaMarca found Brendan Tougher '07 for a 2-0 lead 3:48 later.
No. 8 Hobart (12-3-2) cut its deficit in half in the 34th minute when Tyler Webster '08 scored his third goal on an assist from Greg Davidson '08. Saints' reserve Emmanuel Mbong '10 clinched the victory with his third goal with 5:28 left in the second half. Mbong maneuvered around the diving keeper on a breakaway opportunity and buried the ball in the back of the net.
Emilio Coletta '09 posted six saves for St. Lawrence. Pete Van Dellon '09 made six of his seven saves in the first half to keep the Statesmen in the game early.
Posted November 3, 2006
