UTICA, N.Y. - The Bard College men's lacrosse team defeated SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 11-4, in a non-league game on Wednesday night.

The Wildcats (1-6) scored first, just over a minute into the game, but Bard took charge of the rest of the first quarter. John Palermo scored twice and Corey Rich had three assists as the Raptors (4-3) took a 4-1 lead into the second quarter.

Palermo and Emmet O'Connell scored in the second quarter, and it was 6-2 at halftime.

The Wildcats mounted a threat by scoring the first two goals of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 6-4, but the Raptors kept them off the board the rest of the way, scoring the last five goals of the game.

Bard outshot Poly 41-25 and enjoyed a 36-25 edge in ground balls.

Daniel Rivie (Ossining, NY) scored twice for the hosts. Andrew Barreca (Pittsford, NY) made eight saves.

Corey Rich had a big night for Bard, scoring three times and assisting on four others. John Palermo had four goals, Emmet O'Connell had two goals and an assist, Sam Smith and Blake Burnley each scored once, and George Goceljak had three assists. Freshman goalie Lyle Healey made seven saves. Smith added seven ground balls, two assists and three caused turnovers.

The non-league games are over for the Raptors - only Liberty League games remain. Conference play will begin for Bard on Saturday against Skidmore. That game will be played at Dietz Stadium in Kingston. Follow it live right here starting at 7 p.m.