ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - Andy McCabe's agenda for the 2014 version of men's soccer at Bard College probably looked something like this:

- Change the style of play, be physical and smart;
- Change the culture around the team;
- Win at least one Liberty League game;
- Change the perception of the program on campus, in the league, in the region and in the country.

This team, including his first recruiting class, accomplished all of those things. There were ups and downs, injuries, and more than a few yellow cards, but when all the kicking and screaming was over, Bard men's soccer was different.

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The Raptors opened the 2014 season with an overtime loss to a good team, and they ended the 2014 season with an overtime loss to a good team, falling 2-1 to Vassar on Saturday afternoon. The Brewers move on to the Liberty League playoffs at 11-5-2 overall; Bard ends its season at 5-12-0.

Still, as has often been the case this fall, Bard gave it all they had and almost stole one. Vassar coach Andy Jennings was cautious with his starting lineup, sitting some of his usual starters with the knowledge that the Brewers had already locked up the No. 4 seed in the league playoffs. But the carrot dangling out there was that the Brewers could move up to the No. 3 slot and avoid having to play top-seeded St. Lawrence in the semifinals if they could just beat Bard.

It turned out to be a physical, chippy, chirpy war. Vassar dominated possession and hit a crossbar and two posts in the first half but couldn't cash in. The Brewers outshot Bard 14-3 in the first 45 minutes and they'd have a stiff wind at their backs in the second half.

Bard seemed to know it was going to spend most of the day defending and was comfortable with that, and seemed eager to pounce on counterattack opportunities whenever they arose.

One such chance presented itself midway through the second half with the game still scoreless. Tamaki Chiba battled a double team and worked the ball down into the corner. His cross attempt deflected off of two Vassar defenders and rolled right to Nick Shenberger just inside the top of the box. Shenberger rifled a shot that Vassar freshman Matt Marcelino (Valencia, CA) miraculously saved, but David Mamukelashvili got a foot on the rebound and the ball slowly rolled over the goal line at the far post, setting off quite a celebration in the 71st minute.

The time left on the clock seemed like an eternity as Vassar continued to push forward, and the Brewers tied it in the 77th minute. A foul call just outside the box on the right side gave Gavin Jennings (Poughkeepsie, NY) an opportunity to feed Nick Hess (Troy, NY) on a direct kick, and Hess headed the ball past Daniel Gagne to make it 1-1.

In overtime, Tanner Sands (Draper, UT) scored from six yards out off a low cross from Jordan Palmer (Woodland Hills, CA), and the game was over in the 94th minute. Vassar outshot Bard 28-5 and had an 11-0 edge in corners.

Bard's 2014 team will always be recognized as the first to win a Liberty League game. Now it's just a matter of seeing how the current team develops in the offseason, and what kind of impact McCabe's second recruiting class will provide.

The 2015 team will definitely benefit from not having to change the style of play, culture and perception, as those issues appear to be resolved.