Box Score ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - Twenty minutes into Tuesday night's game against Sage College, it was pretty clear that the Bard men's soccer team was packing it in defensively and hoping to keep the prolific Gators off the board.

But something changed over the next 10 minutes. The Raptors began to realize that this was a game they could win, and they started playing that way.

Bard almost broke through when freshman Austin Higgins' free kick from 25 yards was tipped over the crossbar by Sage keeper Tim Madden (Watertown, NY). At halftime, it was scoreless, and Bard had a 4-1 edge in shots on goal against a team that went 14-5-1 in 2012.

A brilliant, booming shot from Sage's Gustavo Trinidad (Mamaroneck, NY) in the 60th minute, however, proved to be the difference as Sage pulled out a 1-0 non-league victory to improve to 1-0-1.

On the play, a long clear into Bard's defensive third was mistakenly played straight up, and Trinidad pounced on the first bounce, one-timing a rocket into the upper left corner from 30 yards beyond the reach of Bard keeper Daniel Gagne.

Bard pushed forward late, the best opportunity to score coming in the 85th minute when Oscar Valdes' shot from the left wing just missed the far post.

In the end, Sage outshot Bard, 19-11, and had six corners to Bard's one. Madden made five saves and Gagne made four.

Up next for Bard is a non-league match at Plattsburgh State on Saturday at 6. The Raptors will also play SUNY Potsdam on Sunday at 1. Live Stats are available for both contests right here.