ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The Bard College men's soccer season got off the best start in the program's history, a taste of success that the young squad eagerly lapped up.

Then the Liberty League season started:

• A 1-0 loss to nationally-ranked RPI;
• A 3-2 loss to Clarkson, in a game they led in the second half;
• A 2-1 loss in double overtime to nationally-ranked St. Lawrence;
• A 2-1 loss to RIT;
• And a 3-2 loss to Hobart, in a game they led, 2-0.
   

On Tuesday night, they scored a pair of goals 63 seconds apart in the first half against Skidmore, which had yielded two total goals in six previous conference games.

Only the cruelest of the soccer gods was going to take this one away.

Skidmore got one back early in the second half, but the Raptors hung on for dear life in a wild and physical second half, prevailing 2-1 to earn their first conference win of the season.

They deserved it.

"(Nick) Shenberger has a way of stretching things in the back for most defenses," Bard coach Andy McCabe said. "We were able to find some space behind their outside backs, and we got into the box with passion. We won for that reason, and because (defender) Tamaki Chiba marked one of the best forwards in the league and gave him nothing."

The game was tight early. Bard's Austin Higgins hit the post with a direct kick in the fourth minute, and Bard keeper Daniel Gagne was called on to make two diving saves in the 18th and 23rd minutes, respectively.

Bard got on top first. A long ball was played by Higgins from the center circle toward the top of the box. Skidmore keeper Eli Kisselbach (Stamford, CT) rushed out to get it. It took one hop, then was headed by Brendan Byrne just inside the 18 as Kisselbach arrived a second late. It had enough on it to roll across the goal line.

Just over a minute later, the Raptors scored again. A throw-in from Antonio Scanni led Shenberger deep into the left corner. He beat a defender as he turned at the goal line, and lined a cross high into the box. Higgins was there and he powered a header down inside the near post for a 2-0 lead.

The Thoroughbreds had outshot Bard 14-5 in the first half but trailed 2-0, thanks to Higgins' role in the two goals and Gagne's reflexes.

The second half was madness. Skidmore came out flying and cut the lead in half in the first five minutes. They spent the rest of the half attacking, and Bard spent most of it defending. Each team picked up a pair of yellow cards, and it got worse for Bard when a player went off for a red card in the 77th minute.

Never has 13 minutes taken so long before.

In the second half alone, Skidmore outshot Bard 20-3 and had nine corners to none, but Gagne was brilliant, finishing with a dozen saves, and Skidmore never found the equalizer.

Yes, it was the first time Bard has ever beaten Skidmore. It was the first time Bard had ever scored against Skidmore, for that matter.

As far as Bard (7-8-1, 1-6-0 Liberty League) was concerned, the timing was excellent. If the Raptors beat Vassar in their finale on Saturday, then it won't be a finale, because they'll qualify for the ECAC Championships.

As far as Skidmore (9-5-1, 4-3-0) was concerned, the timing couldn't have been worse. The Thoroughbreds were nationally-ranked nine days ago, but they are winless in their last four. A victory Tuesday night at Bard would have clinched a Liberty League playoff spot.

Bard will wrap up its season (or maybe not) at Vassar on Saturday morning at 11. You can follow that game right here via Live Stats or Live Video.