Field hockey scores five goals, a season record, in win over Skidmore

Hamilton College Keeley Duran ’22 scored three goals and the Continentals retired late to a 5-0 non-conference victory over the Skidmore College Thoroughbreds at Goodfriend Field in Hamilton on Wednesday night.

The Continentals (7-3 overall) scored three goals in the final at 8:15 of the fourth quarter. Hamilton’s five goals are the most scored in a game since the 2019 season opener, which was a 7-0 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Continentals, which received votes in this week’s Top 20 Division III coaches poll, host Bowdoin College, ranked No.13 nationally – also 7-3 – on Saturday, October 9 at noon.

Skidmore (6-6) goaltender Jess Gaetgens made eight saves as Hamilton held a 16-5 advantage and received eight penalty corners against five of the Thoroughbreds. Skidmore has been credited with one shot and two corners in the last three quarters. One of the best chances for the thoroughbreds came less than four minutes after the start of the first quarter when the Continentals Grace Cooper ’24 repelled a shot near the left post for a defensive save after Mariah Redler rounded the goalkeeper Maggie Reville ’22.

Duran entered the game with two career goals, but now his five goals and three assists lead Hamilton in points this season with 13. Kiera wax ’23 recorded three assists and leads the team with four this fall. Lexi takashima ’22 and Alana king ’24 recorded two assists each. Reville turned back three shots for his fourth college shutout and his second this season.

The Continentals scored with 6:21 left in the second quarter from a penalty corner. Takashima inserted the ball into Wax and she pushed him forward for a shot just inside Duran’s circle. The ball was knocked down by her teammate on Gaetgens’ stick and the ball settled in the upper left corner of the cage.

Hamilton had a chance to extend his lead with 2:01 left in the second when the Continentals were awarded a penalty stroke, but Gaetgens made the save. Hamilton took the 1-0 lead at the half-time break.

The Continentals scored their second goal with 7:56 left in the third quarter on another corner. Lydon Kelley ’25 inserted the ball to Wax and she pushed him forward for Duran. This time, Duran passed to his right at King, but King sent him straight back to Duran on a nice back and forth, and Duran buried the shot a few yards to the left of the point of the penalty stroke.

Duran scored three goals in one night with 8:15 left in the fourth quarter on another penalty corner. Takashima inserted Wax and she set it up for Duran’s explosion just inside the circle who managed to dodge traffic past Gaetgens.

Emma Liebegott ’22 scored his third goal this fall and the fourth of his career for Hamilton with 4:23 left. Gaetgens made two saves from a corner and King found the second rebound. She passed a backhand pass to Liebegott and landed a backhand shot into the board about five yards.

The Continentals scored the fifth and final goal from, of course, a corner. The wax installs the Takashima insert and passes to its left to Ellie Arnold ’22. Arnold hit a bouncing shot that slipped between Gaetgens and the left post with 2:26 left.