ANNANADALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The Bard College women's soccer team could not hold off NJCU as the Raptors fell, 3-1, to conclude the Raptor Tournament on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams came into the game hungry to get their second win of the season, with a physical battle between NJCU and Bard. The Gothic Knights got the upper hand in the first 2 minutes of the game with back-to-back shots by NJCU. The Raptors were able to bounce back with a shot from
Georgia McCauley in the 3:15 mark. NJCU scored its first goal a minute after the Raptors' first shot from a set-piece free-kick.
Bard kept fighting and tied the game up with a series of sequences at the 22:00 minute mark.
Mahlia Slaiby broke free on the left-hand side and launched a rocket to the goal that hit the far right post.
Melania Hracs got the rebound and shot on the bottom right but NJCU's goalkeeper blocked the shot. The ball landed straight to
Carina Cooke's right foot and Cooke was able to finish the shot to tie the game 1-1.
Not a minute later, NJCU answered back as the Gothic Knights' shots on goal deflected in with the help of the right post. NJCU scored an insurance goal four minutes later to take a 3-1 lead at the half. NJCU led 15-7 in shots with
McKenna Reeves making four of the six saves in the first half.
In the second half, the Raptors changed formation and held NJCU scoreless. The Gothic Knights still led in shots 6-2, with
Thayden Hamilton-Howard making her goalkeeper debut this season, and had a career-high three saves.
Bard will travel to Lehman next Saturday for a 12:00 p.m. kick-off.
