ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - Considering the rainy, windy, freezing conditions for Saturday's Liberty League women's soccer game between Skidmore and Bard, one could have understood if their hearts just weren't in it. It was brutal out there.

But the game was played with tension and playoff urgency. In a thriller, Skidmore edged Bard, 2-1, and qualified for the Liberty League playoffs in the process.

With a driving wind at their backs for the whole first half, Skidmore had the better of the play. But the Thoroughbreds were unable to cash in, due to Bard's bend-don't-break defense and three saves from Abigail Stanley - two that were excellent chances and fine stops.

With the field flipped in the second half, and with Bard carrying the wind advantage, Skidmore surprisingly broke through. Senior Courtney Shaw (Rye Brook, NY) made a diagonal run toward the near post, and with a Bard defender on her hip, hit a low, hard cross that Emma Basso (Norwell, MA) chipped in from the doorstep to make it 1-0 in the 48th minute.

Skidmore continued to produce more shots, and Stanley was equal to the task, but Bard was creating some scoring chances and was definitely a threat. In the 55th minute, the Raptors found the equalizer.

Caroline Gluck got loose down the right wing and struck a long cross into the middle of the box. Dylan McDonald, in full stride, volleyed the cross before it hit the ground, surprising keeper Ava Keller, and it was tied up, 1-1.

In the 72nd minute, Bard narrowly missed taking the lead when Casey Witte's glancing header in the box slid just past the far post.

Skidmore got what it needed in the 76th minute. Sydney Gellerman (West Hartford, CT) got free on the edge of the box and tried to beat Stanley to the far post, but Stanley made a diving save. The rebound, however, trickled to the far post and Melissa Haas (Clifton Park, NY) was there to put it away. That made it 2-1.

Keller saved a shot from McDonald in the 82nd minute, and another good opportunity for McDonald was blocked in the 85th minute. Skidmore hung on and finishes the regular season at 8-6 overall, 5-4 in the Liberty League.

Only one player in the league scored more goals in conference play than McDonald, who finished with five. Stanley finished the day with nine saves.

McDonald, Gluck, Witte, Katie Hopper, Nicole Ellin, Maddie Nye and Hattie Wilder Karlstrom were honored pregame as part of Senior Day ceremonies. Wilder Karlstrom is a junior who transferred, so she's out of eligibility.

They will be sorely missed.