SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After a dead even first half and several unsuccessful forays into the teeth of Bard's offside trap, the women's soccer team from Skidmore figured something out in the second half.

Skidmore continued to play the ball long repeatedly and went offsides eight times, but the long ball worked twice and the Thoroughbreds defeated Bard, 2-0, in a Liberty League game on Tuesday night.

Shots at the half were 5-4 in favor of Skidmore. Neither team had a terrific opportunity to score and possession was even.

In the 60th minute, one of many long balls down the right side found freshman Emily Mendes (Brooklyn, NY) streaking down the wing. Bard keeper Shane Crowley tried to stop Mendes' cross but couldn't, and Emily Saliterman (Mendham, NJ) tapped it into the open net for a 1-0 lead.

In the 74th minute, a long ball played into the box prompted a foul, but Crowley amazingly saved a penalty kick by Mendes to keep the Raptors' hopes alive. Briefly.

Less than two minutes later, another long through ball, this one from Jane Huber (New York, NY), found the feet of Courtney Shaw (Rye Brook, NY), and Shaw beat Crowley to the short side while fending off a Bard defender for a 2-0 lead.

Shots were 6-1 in favor of Skidmore in the second half. The Thoroughbreds are 5-5 overall, 3-2 in the Liberty League.

Bard (5-5-1, 1-3) next hosts Union on Saturday at 2. Follow that game via Live Stats or Live Video right here.