SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- The RIT women's soccer team (12-3-3) avenged an earlier 2013 loss with a 1-0 win at Skidmore College (12-3-2) in the Liberty League Women's Soccer Tournament Semifinal on Wednesday afternoon. Sophomore forward #Ehlana Gray (Sewickley, PA/Avonworth)# scored in the 40th minute and the defense held strong, sending RIT to its first appearance in the conference championship game.

"Ehlana's goal was huge for us," said RIT Head Coach #Liz Masterson#. "Up until that point they had held the bulk of the play. Her goal gave us a huge lift."

Shots were 13-6 in favor of Skidmore. The Thoroughbreds took four corner kicks to none for the Tigers.

Junior #Amanda Murray (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls)# picked up her eleventh win in net for RIT, making nine saves. Gab Lawrence took the loss for Skidmore, making two saves.

The shut out is a record eleventh of the season for the Tigers.

Skidmore did carry much of the play in the first half, getting some shots in on Murray early. Arena Manning tested Murray in the opening moments of the contest with a shot from outside.

Christine Belotti, who scored two goals in the regular-season matchup, had a shot from 20 yards out in the 29th minute that Murray saw the whole way and gobbled up.

Late in the opening half, RIT began to build momentum. Freshman #Anka Parzych (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna)# got free down the right flank, and flicked a service into the Thoroughbreds penalty box.

A Skidmore defender tried to head the ball clear, but it deflected off her head and right to Gray who was perched on the far post. Gray was 1-on-1 with Lawrence. She gathered and fired a shot into the right side of the net for her first tally of the season that gave RIT a 1-0 lead.

The second half saw RIT's defense tighten up, not allowing the Thoroughbreds' offense much room to operate. Led by #Jamie Martinez (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel)#, Shleby Vakiener, #Kiana Richards (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake)#, and #Gwen Neuhaus (Woodbridge, VA/Potomac)#, the Tigers forced Skidmore into outside shots that Murray was able to see the whole way and save.

RIT had a chance to take a 2-0 lead when #Sierra Kiss (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit)# sent a through ball early in the second half to Gray who was making the run, but Lawrence came off her line and cut the ball off before Gray could get a touch.

With five minutes to play, Skidmore had a free kick right at the top of the RIT penaty box. Elizabeth Schaeffer took the shot over the Tigers wall, but right at Murray who made the save, keeping the Thoroughbreds off the scoreboard.

RIT, ranked 24th in the current NSCAA Division III poll, advances to face top-seed William Smith, who is ranked third nationally, in the title game on Saturday, November, 9 at 1 p.m. at Cozzens Field on the campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The Herons beat the Tigers 2-0 in their regular season meeting last Saturday.

Last season, RIT played William Smith to a 1-1 draw in the Liberty League semifinals, with the Herons advancing on penalty kicks.

"Last year in the semifinals we gave them (William Smith) a great game," said Masterson. "This is for the title, anything can happen."