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Bard College Athletics

Hallie Nolan
Hallie Nolan scored against Vassar in the final game of her career.
1
Bard College BARD-W (5-11-2 (0-7-1 LL))
1
Vassar College VCWS (8-5-3 (2-2-3 LL))
Bard College BARD-W
(5-11-2 (0-7-1 LL))
1
Final
1
Vassar College VCWS
(8-5-3 (2-2-3 LL))
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
Bard College BARD-W 0 1 0 0 1
Vassar College VCWS 0 1 0 0 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

O'Brien stands tall, Nolan scores in 1-1 draw with Vassar

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The way the game was going, something only slightly less than a miracle was needed if Bard was going to beat Vassar in Tuesday afternoon's Liberty League game.

Hallie Nolan and Kelsey O'Brien almost pulled it off.

O'Brien made 14 saves, including a few from point-blank range, and Nolan made sure Bard's only shot on goal went in with a laser strike, as the Raptors drew with Vassar, 1-1. The result dealt a serious blow to Vassar's playoff chances, as the Brewers now need to beat Union this weekend while St. Lawrence is losing to Clarkson. Any other result will leave Vassar on the outside looking in.

Bard (5-11-2, 0-7-1 Liberty League) was on its heels from the start, and Vassar hit the post twice in the first 15 minutes. Shots were 17-1 at the half, and the best result the Raptors could seemingly hope for was a scoreless tie, since O'Brien was impersonating a brick wall between the pipes.

Enter senior defender Hallie Nolan, who was playing in her final game. She ripped a direct kick from 35 yards that went upper-90 to the far post and gave Bard a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute. It turned out to be Bard's only shot on goal.

It was only the second time since Bard joined the Liberty League in 2011 that the Raptors had the lead in a conference game. Bard led RPI, 1-0, at halftime back on Oct. 22, 2011, on a goal by then-freshman Joanna Regan, but lost, 3-1.

Anyway, Vassar responded with even more pressure in an attempt to tie it. The Brewers (8-5-3, 2-2-3) cashed in at 66:49, when Chloe Wheeler (Thousands Oaks, CA) headed a cross in from Lucy Brainerd (Littleton, CO). It was one of numerous forays into the box for Wheeler on the afternoon, and she didn't miss from close range this time.

At that point Bard was definitely playing for a draw and it worked. Total shots were 35-2 for Vassar by the end, but for the third straight season, Bard had a draw in league play. The Raptors tied Clarkson in 2012, St. Lawrence in 2013, and now Vassar in 2014.

For seniors Nolan, Regan, Victoria Castiglione and Simone Leitner, it was their final game. It turned out to be a memorable one.
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