Bard College Athletics

The Bard College men's soccer team delivered a commanding performance Wednesday night, cruising past Purchase with a 7-0 victory. Henry Skeltis and Mikhail O'Garro each scored a couple of goals each, while Mateo Betelu and Evan Baukol added goals to help the Raptors improve to 8-4-1.

After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, Bard broke through in the 25th minute when Betelu converted a penalty kick to give the Raptors a 1-0 advantage. Just 90 seconds later, Baukol doubled the lead with a goal of his own, putting Bard firmly in control.

Skeltis continued the offensive surge late in the first half, finding the back of the net twice in just over three minutes. Emmett Olson assisted on both goals, sending the Raptors into halftime with a commanding 4-0 lead.

Bard carried that momentum into the second half, refusing to take its foot off the gas. O'Garro joined the scoring party in the 67th minute on Olson's third assist of the evening, then completed his brace less than three minutes later, this time with Skeltis providing the helper. Olson's third assist is a career high and the most by a Raptor since Nick Shenberger in 2015 vs. York. 

The Raptors capped off their seven-goal performance in the 77th minute as Purchase scored an own goal to seal the shutout victory. 

Skeltis finished with a game-high five points on two goals and an assist, while O'Garro added four points. Olson played a pivotal role in Bard's offensive production, dishing out a career-high three assists. 

Defensively, the Raptors were equally impressive. Goalkeeper Julian Landau recorded three saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Bard finished the contest with a 13-9 advantage in shots, including an 8-3 edge in shots on goal, and earned six corner kicks to Purchase's four. 

The Raptors end their non-conference run undefeated, 8-0; this is only the second time in program history they have won all their non-conference games (the previous season was 2023). 

Bard will face Skidmore on Saturday at 2 p.m. for their Kick it Pink Miles of Hope game.