ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - After enduring a bittersweet, emotional pregame ceremony honoring six seniors, the Bard College women's lacrosse team then had to endure Union College, which entered Friday two wins away from a possible Liberty League playoff berth.

A loss, and Union would be out. So the Dutchwomen jumped out to a 7-1 lead through 12 minutes. All seemed according to plan.

Bard responded, however, cutting the lead to 8-5 with 11 minutes to go in the first half. Union fought off two overlapping man-down situations, took a 10-5 lead into halftime, and won the game 22-9 to keeps its playoff hopes alive.

The key juncture of the game came after Caleigh DeCaprio scored off an assist from Nicole Ellin to make it 8-5. Bard had the momentum after scoring four of the last five goals. Then Union went down a player due to a yellow card, and a minute into that penalty, went down another player with another yellow card.

Bard's first possession after the first card resulted in a turnover, and the Dutchwomen executed a difficult clear. Izabel Kickner made a save, and Bard cleared, only to turn it over again. Union successfully cleared again, and Kellie Cronin (Westwood, MA)  cashed in with a man-down free position goal with 1:49 left in the half, making it 9-5.

Once the penalties were over, Ellie Taney (Cohasset, MA) made a great save off a close-range shot from Melissa Rosenthal, and Ramsey Walsh (Easton, CT) scored with 21 seconds left in the half to make it 10-5 at the break.

Bard's momentum was gone, and Union pounced, scoring twice in the first minute of the second half. That set the tone, and the Dutchwomen outscored Bard 12-4 in the final 30 minutes.

Cronin led Union with four goals and one assist, and Hannah Rosenberger (North Andover, MA) scored five goals. Lindsay Gerrato (Berkeley Heights, NJ) added three goals and 11 draw controls. Taney made 10 saves.

DeCaprio and Rosenthal scored three goals apiece for Bard, and Rosenthal collected four draws. Ellin had a goal and an assist, McDonald scored once, and Witte had an assist. Rachael Yoder had six draw controls, and Jade Waring caused a pair of turnovers. Roxanne Rouskas made two saves, and Kickner made five for the Raptors.

It was the final game for Witte, McDonald, Ellin, Waring, Rachael Rice and Alliyah Williams. All six players made an impact that reached well beyond Athletics at Bard, and they will be missed.