Box Score NEW HAVEN, Conn. - It took all of about two minutes for the changes on the 2012 Bard College women's soccer team to be evidenced.

Senior Perry Scheetz, a defender through her entire collegiate career, started up front and scored just 2:12 into the match as Bard shut out Albertus Magnus, 3-0, in its season opener on Sunday afternoon.

Freshmen Sylvia Kool and Ryan O'Connell are part of a large class of recruits who have added tremendous depth and skill to head coach Bill Kelly's team. Kool had an assist and O'Connell made seven saves in earning a shutout in her collegiate debut.
 
"We have a lot to build on after this," Kelly said after the game. "It was a strong performance. We learned a lot about our first years, and it's all good."

Scheetz pounced on a rebound in the opening minutes after a Maddy Huggins shot hit the crossbar. It remained 1-0 at halftime.

In the 58th minute, Huggins hit a one-timer to make it 2-0 off a beautiful cross from Kool - the pass was lofted from the wing over the goalie's head, and Huggins ran onto the pass and chipped it in.

Later, in the 85th minute, Brianna Bean made it 3-0 after a direct kick from freshman Isabel Keddy-Hector deflected off a defender, right to Bean's foot.

Kelly was quick to mention the effectiveness of freshman Gina Lewis at midfield.

"It was a great level of competition," Kelly said, referring to Albertus Magnus. "They were bummed to be down early, but they fought back and for a while there in the second half I thought they might get back into the game. It was really hot out there, but we did a good job of using our depth. In the last 20 minutes or so I think we really dominated."

Kelly turned to Scheetz in the second half to mark speedy Albertus Magnus forward Amanda Roke (Cheshire, CT), who led the Falcons in scoring last year. Scheetz moved from forward to defense and effectively neutralized the threat for the rest of the game.

Scheetz's goal, by the way, was the fifth of her collegiate career and her first since her sophomore year, when she scored four goals.

Up next for the Raptors is Sage, on Wednesday night at home at 7.