ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - The Bard College women's soccer team suffered a bitter defeat Saturday afternoon, as the Raptors fell to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2-1.

The day started off wonderfully with a pregame ceremony to celebrate seniors Kelsey O'Brien and Clara Gallagher, and all that they have done for Bard soccer. The players shared the moment with friends, families and loved ones, as photos and hugs were shared on the field just before kickoff. 

Once the game began, wind, rain and temperatures in the 40's affected the match, limiting both teams throughout. RPI (13-3, 5-2 Liberty League) was able to take advantage of the weather first, with a goal in the ninth minute.

The Engineers attempted a shot from distance that O'Brien tried to catch against her chest, but it squirted free, and Cori Winslow (Ballston Spa, NY) was right there to punch the rebound in for a 1-0 lead.

Later in the first half, Bard (7-9, 1-6 Liberty League) had a great opportunity to equalize the match. In the 33rd minute, Caroline Gluck received a pass and raced down the sideline with it, she then sent in a beautiful cross, that Avalon Qian got her head on and sent toward goal. However, RPI goalie Joey Lyons (Harwood, MD), was somehow able to get her hands on the header, parrying it away from goal. 

As the first half neared conclusion, Bard once again found itself with a chance to score. Qian made a run forward, beating the defense to the ball. As she made a move to beat the final defender, the two players had their feet entangled just outside the box. Lyons raced up to grab the ball, but before she could grab it, Qian, while laying on the ground, somehow passed the ball out toward Dylan McDonald, who had a wide open chance on frame. Frustratingly for Bard, the pass was too long and went out of bounds. The official, who played advantage, went back and gave Bard the free kick on the ensuing play, but it was blocked.

It was 1-0 at halftime.

In the 53rd minute, Winslow sent a cross into the box from the left side that O'Brien got her hands on, but just like in the first half, as she came down, the ball popped out, where Ali Zumpetta (Mount Laurel, NJ) was waiting for an easy tap in to make it 2-0.

Bard played with greater energy from that point and cut RPI's lead in half in the 83rd minute. Hattie Wilder Karlstrom drove a long free kick toward goal - a rocket - and Lyons got a glove on it before it hit the crossbar and bounced right back into the box as Lyons fell back into the goal. Katie Hopper ran onto the ball and chested it in to make it 2-1.

RPI outshot Bard 23-12; Lyons had four saves, and O'Brien had 14 in her final home game.

Bard's 2016 season will conclude on Tuesday with a Liberty League match at Vassar at 3:30. Follow it live right here.