First-year Maddie Needham scored her first career goal for the Saints, but the St. Lawrence University women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to Skidmore College in its Liberty League opener on Saturday afternoon at Sandy MacAllaster Field in Canton, N.Y.

St. Lawrence fell to 4-3-2 overall and 0-1-0 in conference play, while Skidmore improved to 4-2-2 and 2-0-0 in the Liberty League.

After a scoreless first half that featured 16 combined shots, the Thoroughbreds broke through in the 64th minute when defender Hazel Aiello buried a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box to give the Thoroughbreds a 1-0 lead.

The Saints responded quickly. In the 68th minute, Chloe Bourque sent a dangerous free kick into the box that deflected off two Skidmore players before landing at the feet of Needham, who slotted it into the lower left corner for her first collegiate goal.

Skidmore reclaimed the lead in the 80th minute on another set piece. Aiello delivered a pinpoint free kick that Abby Lewis headed home for her team-leading fifth goal of the season.

St. Lawrence had late chances to equalize, with Lilly Stone, Madison King-Thurber, and Kaitlyn Barton all testing the Thoroughbred defense, but the Saints couldn't find the back of the net before time expired.

The Thoroughbreds held a narrow edge in shots (19-16) and shots on goal (9-8), while also earning six corner kicks to the Saints' two.

Goalkeeper Zoe Davenport made a career-high seven saves for St. Lawrence, matching Skidmore's Avery Rogers, who also stopped seven shots.

The Saints return to action Sunday afternoon with a 1:30 p.m. non-conference matchup at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., their final non-league contest of the season.