Skip To Main Content

Bard College Athletics

Kelsey O'Brien
Kelsey O'Brien keyed Bard's victory with five saves, including one great one.
2
Winner Bard College BARD-W (2-0-0, 0-0)
1
Castleton CASTLETO (1-1-0, 0-0)
Winner
Bard College BARD-W
(2-0-0, 0-0)
2
Final
1
Castleton CASTLETO
(1-1-0, 0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Bard College BARD-W 1 1 2
Castleton CASTLETO 0 1 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Bard surprises host Castleton, 2-1, advances to tournament final

CASTLETON, Vt. - As a rule, when you host a tournament, you want to play what you perceive to be the weakest team first. That way you can just about guarantee you'll be playing in the championship game.

Oops.

The Bard College women's soccer team stunned host Castleton University, 2-1, on Saturday to advance to the Rutland Herald Invitational final against UMass-Boston on Sunday at 3. UMass-Boston defeated Kean University, 1-0, in the other semifinal.

Bard's victory wasn't easy. Castleton entered the game with a decisive 4-1 victory over Skidmore under its belt, and this one proved to be a thriller.

With the game scoreless heading into the final 15 minutes of the opening half, freshman Katie Hopper gave Bard a 1-0 lead. Freshman Nicole Ellin received a throw-in from the sideline and fed Hopper with a nice through ball just outside the 18, and Hopper chipped a shot over the head of Castleton keeper Jessica Binkowski (Goshen, CT).

It was still 1-0 when Bard sophomore keeper Kelsey O'Brien made the decision and the save of the match early in the second half. Castleton striker Nicole Wershoven (Southington, CT) got loose for a clear breakaway, but O'Brien burst from her line and challenged her at the top of the box. Wershoven took a shot and O'Brien got a hand on it, pushing it wide.

It was the save of the game, according to Bard coach Bill Kelly.

"Kelsey's solid," Kelly said. "She's just a solid shot-stopper and gives us confidence in back. We just know she's going to make a play. She came up with that one huge save."

Junior Clara Gallagher provided the eventual game-winner just a few minutes later. A free kick was stopped by Binkowski, but Gallagher pounced on the rebound and put it home, giving the Raptors a 2-0 lead in the 60th minute.

The Spartans (1-1) continued to pressure the Raptors from there, and found the net in the 88th minute when senior Mallory Costello (Vernon, NJ) banked a shot in off the post, but it was too late. Bard (2-0) held on and will play UMass-Boston on Sunday at 3.

Bard last opened a season with three straight wins in 2012.
Print Friendly Version