After a heartbreaking 1-0 double-overtime loss against UMBC last week, the Binghamton women’s soccer team will look to bounce back against Albany on Thursday. Ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in the America East standings, the result of the Bearcats-Great Danes contest could prove pivotal come quarterfinals at the end of October.
Binghamton (5-4-2, 0-1-1 America East) gave UMBC all it could handle, outshooting the Golden Retrievers 15-7 throughout the match. However, sophomore forward Alexa Quaranta, who was named AE Player of the Week on Monday, fired a shot just inside the right post in the 106th minute to secure a conference win for UMBC.
The loss dropped the Bearcats to 1-3-2 in their last six contests.
Albany (1-10-1, 0-2-1 AE) has had struggles of its own this season. Winless since August and fielding a defense that has surrendered 36 goals in 11 games, the Great Danes have room for improvement in their remaining five games of the regular season.
In its latest matchup against common-rival UMBC, Albany nearly sparked a comeback down 2-1 in the 81st minute, but a late free kick by the Retrievers sealed Albany’s fate in the 3-1 loss.
“It should be a good matchup, [the Great Danes are] a hardworking team,” BU head coach Sarah McClellan said. “To win this game we’re going to have to work hard and cover tons of ground.”
Earlier in the season, the Great Danes’ offense put up four goals in a close loss against Cornell, which held the Bearcats scoreless in their matchup. Both teams also managed ties in their respective contests with New Hampshire, leaving each with one point in the conference.
The Bearcats have not beaten Albany since 2009.
Three days after its trip to Albany, Binghamton is scheduled to face conference leader Maine at the Black Bears’ Alumni Field. Maine (5-3-4, 2-0-1 AE) will host UMass Lowell on Thursday before welcoming Binghamton on Sunday.
“Right now we’re in a good place,” McClellan said. “We’re in a state of readiness, and the team seems very much committed going forward.”
The BU-Albany game is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at Bob Ford Field in Albany, N.Y.