Student-athletes returning to Skidmore College this fall are poised and ready to make this season yet another successful one for the Thoroughbreds.

During the 2006 season, all seven fall sports teams quietly amassed winning records, together posting an incredible combined record of 82-39-5. Every fall athlete was granted the opportunity to compete in post-season play, with six teams earning trips to the Liberty League tournament and three teams advancing to NCAA tournament play.

With the leadership of returning veterans combined with the addition of talented first-year players, expectations are high once again for the Thoroughbreds.

The most highly anticipated team this fall may be the women’s soccer team, who after steadily improving over the last several years to a record of 12-4-4 last season, return 18 players and look to take the next step towards capturing the league tournament title and advancing to the NCAA tournament.

“We hope to continue with the success of the past few seasons and achieve some new results, specifically against William Smith and Union,” said head coach Sarah Cooper.

The Thoroughbreds ended the past two seasons with tough conference tournament losses to Union and William Smith, respectively, but this year will rely on experience to overcome the traditional league powerhouses.

Skidmore returns five seniors to the starting lineup, all of whom have been starters throughout their career wearing green and yellow.

“I believe our seniors will play an integral role in our teams success this year, using the experience they have gained over the past three years to lead the team and get them through tough games,” said Cooper.

The Liberty League is once again strong and it won’t be an easy road for the Thoroughbreds. However, with their athletic style of play, solid defense, leadership and ability to play with heart, Skidmore looks to finish in the top two of the league and this year overtake the tournament crown on its way to the NCAA tournament.

Women’s soccer key players: Skidmore returns 18 players to this year’s squad, including seniors Anna Cerio, Liza Mills, Jess Morten, Sarah Pociask, and Sarah Russell-Smith. Juniors Rachael Sushner and Sarah Whateley, as well as Sophomores Jenni Hibbard and Marianna Grigorov will also make significant contributions.

2007 outlook: In a tough league, Skidmore will turn to its veteran leadership and experience to continue success this season. To reach expectations of winning the league and advancing to the NCAA tournament, the Thoroughbreds will have to stay healthy and regain the ruthlessness in front of the goal to put teams away in close games.

What to watch for: Skidmore will do most of its battling away from Saratoga, playing many tough games on the road. The Thoroughbreds play host to only two league teams, R.P.I. and Vassar on October 20th and 21st, respectively. The closest road game will be Oct. 13 against rival Union College at 1 p.m.

Here is a look at some of the other Thoroughbred fall teams:

Golf

2006 season: The Skidmore  men’s golf team achieved national success last season, placing 16th at the NCAA Division III tournament with two golfers placing in the top 75 individually.

Key players: Skidmore lost Stuart Drahota to graduation, who finished 62nd at the 2006 NCAA Tournament, but bring back seven players, including sophomore Chris DeJohn  (placed 25th at the NCAA tournament), as well as two others with national playing experience.

2007 outlook: With seven strong returners and the addition of four incoming first-year players, the Thoroughbreds look to again compete in the Liberty League and on the national level. Skidmore is currently ranked No. 1 in the region and hopes to return to the NCAA tournament for the 22nd straight year.

What to watch for: Unlike traditional fall sports, the golf season runs throughout the fall and continues again in the spring. Skidmore will play in an array of fall tournaments, including the Liberty League Championships and Skidmore Fall Classic on October 3; however will vie for a trip to the NCAA Tournament in the spring.

Volleyball

2006 season: The Thoroughbreds finished the 2006 campaign with a 23-13 (3-1 Liberty League) record, advancing to the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Cortland State in a heart-breaking five-set match.

Key players: Skidmore graduated a relatively large senior class, including All-American Darryl Manzer. This year’s squad returns seven players and welcomes five first-year players. Look for significant contributions from returning All-American libero sophomore Lauren Dinsdale, as well as senior Kaity Mahoney and juniors Erica Duncan and Murray Koch.

2007 outlook: Early expectations for the Thoroughbreds focused on re-building, however, with a strong incoming class and much-improved returning group, the Thoroughbreds look to continue to be competitive at the conference and state level. The overall fitness of the group is markedly improved, and the intensity and energy level of the Thoroughbreds is soaring.

What to watch for: Almost every team in the league returns a strong group of players and will likely improve from last season. The Thoroughbreds play in a host of weekend tournaments throughout the fall, including the annual Skidmore Classic Oct. 19-20. With improved returning players and tough play from the rookie class, Skidmore looks to be competitive in this tough field.

The remaining fall teams will be featured in next week’s edition. More information on Skidmore Athletics can be found at www.skidmore.edu/athletics.