It was the most important game of the season: a 1-0 shutout in sudden death overtime over New Hampshire on Oct. 5, moving the Binghamton women’s soccer team ahead of the Wildcats in the standings and sending them on their way to another playoff appearance.

And what benefit does the better seed bring for the Bearcats? A home playoff game? A first-round bye?

None of the above, but the Bearcats will at least be wearing the home white when they take on New Hampshire in the first round of the America East tournament at Hartford’s Al-Marzook Field on Friday at 3 p.m. The entire tournament is hosted by the No. 1-seeded Hawks.

Despite the home jersey for BU, the game should be evenly matched, with no team having an edge.

“It’s going to be very difficult — we have a lot of respect for New Hampshire,” said head coach Jeff Leightman. “They are always dangerous. If we want to win, we have to be on top of our game for 90 minutes.”

The Bearcats were on top of their game last time they met the Wildcats, winning when Tricia Reed booted a feed from Kelly Haslinger past the goaltender just seconds into overtime.

Junior goalkeeper Kristie Bowers had to make several key saves in that game, and will look to repeat her performance again in the playoffs.

“I think it’s important that we go out there and play the best that we possibly can,” Bowers said. “If we lose, it’s our last game. There is no tomorrow.”

The Bearcats understand how important this game is, because they have been to the tournament before. The Bearcats were bounced in the AE semifinals last year by Maine, after winning the conference title in 2004.

In order to beat UNH again it will take another stellar effort from Bowers, but also some finishing on the offensive end.

“We have to score first,” Leightman said. “If we score first we’re a very tough team to beat. But in that respect I think sometimes it’s harder for us to score goals.”

Scoring goals will be key for BU if they advance and have to take on conference leader Hartford on Sunday on Hartford’s home field. Hartford shut out the Bearcats 2-0 last Thursday, and that loss is still on the team’s mind.

“We want to play Hartford again, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure that happens,” Leightman said.

The key to beating Hartford will once again be finishing on those goal-scoring chances that have eluded the Bearcats all season.

“I think we just have to finish,” Bowers said. “We had a great game versus Hartford the first time. We played with a lot of heart and a lot of passion, but one thing we still have to do is finish.”

Hartford surprised the league last week when it shocked nationally ranked Boston University and won the conference title, ensuring that the tournament would be played in West Hartford.

The upset speaks volumes to how good the conference has been this season.

“I don’t think there’s a team in this tournament that doesn’t belong,” Leightman said. “Six teams [in the playoffs] almost isn’t enough in this conference. Every conference game is an absolute battle.”

The Bearcats have won it all before, and hope that the momentum from beating a team like New Hampshire can carry over and push them to another final.

“It would be amazing to win it again,” Bowers said. “It’s a dream to do it once, but to win it twice …”