After a stunning 1-0 win over New Hampshire in the America East quarterfinals, the Binghamton University women’s soccer team headed to Long Island for a semifinal matchup with Stony Brook on Sunday evening. However, the result did not go in the Bearcats’ favor this time around, as they dropped the match, 2-0.

After losing a close 3-2 game to the Seawolves (10-7-0) on Oct. 23, the Bearcats (8-9-1) came into this match with a ton of grit and determination, tallying the first seven shots of the game and catching Stony Brook netminder Marisa Viola off balance. However, the junior keeper, the America East Goaltender of the Year, kept her composure and played a very strong match.

“We wanted to come out strong against Stony Brook and we did just that in the first half,” said Binghamton head coach Sarah McClellan. “I wouldn’t say that last night’s game was overly physical, just a good battle.”

The Stony Brook defense took some time to adjust to the high level of intensity that controlled the first part of the game, but eventually settled down and held the Bearcats to just three shots after the initial flurry that opened the match. Forward Brooke Barbuto opened the scoring for the Seawolves in the 32nd minute when she took a cross pass from fellow senior Trine Allenberg and put it past Bearcat goalie Jen McEachron from eight yards out. Barbuto, an All-America East first-team member, finished the game with two shots.

Then, just over two minutes into the second half, freshman Colleen McKenna put Stony Brook up by two goals when she fired a shot past McEachron at 47:18. It was McKenna’s ninth goal of the season. McKenna, the America East Rookie of the Year and like Barbuto an All-America East first team selection, finished the game with five shots. McEachron finished the game with six saves on 13 Stony Brook shots.

Binghamton, playing their fourth straight road game, managed 10 shots on Viola, including three by junior midfielder Amanda Casares.

“Unfortunately, we were not able to keep up our physical and mental commitment to the game,” McClellan said. “I think all of our traveling showed up in the second half.”

The team, while not capturing the America East crown, still exceeded expectations for a team in transition, as the squad had a wealth of young talent but few seasoned veteran players. The team’s eighth win more than doubled their three-win output from one season ago. The team’s goal total for the season (22) also surpassed the total from last year (19).

“Overall, it was a very good season put forth by the team, especially in comparison to last year,” McClellan said.

Now that they have had a season to mesh, the returning players for the 2009 season will look to dominate play in the same way that they did at certain times during this year.

“What is important is that we continue to improve and develop as a program,” McClellan said.