For the Binghamton University women’s soccer team, the battle for a fourth consecutive America East Tournament berth begins Thursday night at the Bearcat Sports Complex.

That challenge this year will be noticeably more difficult than in years past. After winning the America East in 2004, the Bearcats made the playoffs as the fourth and fifth seed respectively in the last two seasons. The top six teams qualify for the AE Tournament, with the top two teams receiving byes.

The Bearcats (2-2-2, 1-3 AE) currently sit in sixth place, one ahead of Albany in the loss column, however, after losing to the Danes last week, the Bearcats do not have a tiebreaker over them.

In order to avoid falling behind Albany, a team with a winnable Thursday showdown against Vermont this week, the Bearcats must knock off the top team in the conference, undefeated Stony Brook (7-2-4, 4-0-1 AE). Stony Brook, like fellow unbeaten AE team Boston University, is receiving votes in the latest NSCAA/adidas Northeast rankings.

Scoring goals has been trouble for the Bearcats this season and that will undoubtedly continue against a Stony Brook team that has posted 11 straight shutouts and has not allowed a goal since a 2-1 victory over Fordham on Sept. 14.

Seawolves goalkeeper Marisa Viola has an AE-best 0.43 goals against average, and has not allowed a goal in 814:38, currently the longest streak in the nation and ranks 12th in NCAA history. She also has a league best .928 save percentage.

SBU’s 11 shutouts have also broken the school record of eight set in 1988.

Looking to end Viola’s record streak will be senior Bearcat forwards Kim Povill and Danielle White, who are tied for fourth in the America East with four goals.

Should the Bearcats pull off the upset and shock Stony Brook, the uphill battle continues. BU takes on fourth place Maine on the road, last place UMBC at home and then wraps up the season at undefeated Boston. With the Boston game looming, winning the next three seems imperative if the Bearcats don’t want to be shut out of the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.