ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - Union College, the 20th-ranked women's soccer team in the country, was made to sweat on Saturday afternoon at Bard.

And it wasn't because it was close to 80 degrees at game time.

Bard rallied twice from two-goal deficits to draw within a goal of Union College, and eventually lost, 4-2. But it was clearly Bard's best performance of the season so far, as the Raptors made Union uncomfortable and nearly tied the match with 17 minutes left.

Union opened the scoring in the 15th minute when junior Jennifer Mansfield (Hopewell Junction, NY) poked in a short pass from sophomore Laura Snowden (Schenectady, NY) right in front of the Bard goal. Even though possession appeared even through the rest of the half, Union made it 2-0 in the 37th minute on a beautiful goal by freshman phenom Mollie Gilchrist (Johnsonville, NY), who headed in a long cross from sophomore Giovanna Velardo (Stormville, NY).

About four minutes later, things began to change.

Bard pressed forward, and Union was cited for a hand ball in the box, giving Bard a penalty kick opportunity. Freshman Megan Snyder struck a low, hard shot that clanged off the post and went in, giving Bard's its first-ever goal in the Liberty League, and cutting Union's lead to 2-1 just a few minutes before halftime.

Early in the second half, Bard carried possession and play. The Raptors, apparently inspired by Snyder's PK, played with great confidence and aggressiveness, and produced two good scoring chances that would have tied the game, but they were saved.

In the 62nd minute, Gilchrist made a long run down the left wing, and her cross was knocked in by Mansfield, who booted a high pass into the goal right before colliding with a Bard defender. It appeared to be the back-breaker, as it made the score 3-1.

Bard wasn't done, though.

Senior Kim Larie took a direct kick from about 38 yards out and surprised Union keeper Kayla Marti (Newburgh, NY) with a booming, line-drive of a shot that struck the bottom of the crossbar and went in, making it 3-2 with 22 minutes left in the game.

Five minutes later, with Bard pressing forward again, Marti made a diving stop on a low, hard shot by junior Cosie Andujar. But the pressing forward eventually created another scoring opportunity for Union, and the Dutchwomen made it pay off.

Gilchrist took a great through ball from Snowden and burst down the left side on a counterattack, beating Bard keeper Amy Strawbridge from a tough angle to make it 4-2 with less than 10 minutes left.

Strawbridge made two saves, as did Jenn Osher, who played most of the game at keeper. The Raptors are 3-8 overall, 0-3 in the Liberty League.

Union is 12-1, 2-1 in the Liberty League.

Next up for Bard is a road game on Sunday at Skidmore at 2.