GENEVA, N.Y. - The Bard College women's soccer team was defeated by the eighth-ranked Herons of William Smith College, 5-1, Saturday afternoon in a Liberty League game.

The Raptors are now 4-4-1 overall and 0-2 in the Liberty League. With the win, William Smith improved to 7-2 and 3-0 on the season.

Despite the loss, the game was quite memorable for Bard, as Dylan McDonald's goal in the 12th minute marked the first time the Raptors had ever scored against William Smith. 

After falling behind 1-0 in the fifth minute, the Raptors responded when Felicia Flores hooked up with McDonald for the strike. Flores won the ball by intercepting it in the Bard defensive half, before launching it downfield in front of a streaking McDonald.

As the ball flew down the pitch, William Smith's keeper, Veronica Romines (San Diego, CA), came charging out to try to knock it away, but McDonald was faster. The senior striker beat Romines to the ball, pushing it to the left just out of the keeper's reach, before blasting it into an empty net just outside the penalty box.

After the strike, the Herons regained their form and quickly jumped back in front with a goal in the 14th minute. Two more first half goals pushed William Smith ahead further, before an early second half goal made it, 5-1.

In the game, the Herons outshot the Raptors, 24-5 and won the corner kick battle, 5-1. Sheila McQuillen (Natick, MA) and Megan Barwick (Seattle, WA) each tallied two goals in the win. 

Abigail Stanley finished with eight saves in the effort for Bard. 

Up next for the Raptors is another tough Liberty League road matchup, as Bard takes on 24th-ranked Vassar College on October 2nd at 4 p.m. You can follow that game right here.