Senior Alyssa Cristaldi (North Syracuse, NY) scored a game-high seven goals, becoming the program's all-time leader in goals in the process, as the Clarkson University Women’s Lacrosse team extended its season-opening winning streak to six games with a 16-12 victory over Skidmore College on Friday afternoon at Hantz Turf Field in the first Liberty League game of the season for both teams.

The Golden Knights, guided by first-year co-head coaches Ben Gaebel and Christy Foster, will look to continue the best start in the program’s history when they host Rensselaer in conference action on Saturday in a 2:00 p.m. game in Potsdam.

Clarkson never trailed against Skidmore (1-5, 0-1) in a tight game, which saw the Green and Gold pull away late in the second half by scoring four of the final six goals.

Cristaldi scored four goals in the opening 30 minutes to help Clarkson take a 9-7 lead at the half.

Freshman Christine Wright (Watertown, NY) also had a strong game offensively for the Knights, scoring four goals and recording a game-high three assists. Senior Katie VanDeValk (Baldwinsville, NY) scored twice.

Robin Fetterolf, who tallied a team-high six goals for the Thoroughbreds, made the score 12-10 with 18 minutes left to play, but Cristaldi and VanDeValk answered back to put Clarkson up by four goals, 14-10 with 16:30 left. The Knights took their biggest lead of the game at 16-11 with 4:35 remaining when Wright connected for her fourth goal of the day.

Seniors Kerrie Cline (Tuxedo, NY) and Nicole Kelly (Syracuse, NY) and junior Mastronardi (Cortland, NY) also scored in the Knights' highest offensive outing of the season.

Skidmore outshot the Green and Gold 30-26, but junior Kara DiNatale (Auburn, NH) came through with a 10-save effort in the Clarkson goal.

Both teams recorded 18 ground balls. VanDeValk and Wright picked up a game-high four ground balls apiece to lead the Knights.