Playoff implications were the name of the game yesterday night as Binghamton University women’s soccer squared off against Stony Brook University in an America East showdown. Unfortunately for the Bearcats, the game did not go their way as they dropped the decision 3-2.
Binghamton (6-8-1, 2-5 AE) came into the game tied with Vermont for the final America East playoff berth. The Sea Wolves (9-7, 5-2 AE) came into the home game with a playoff berth essentially clinched. The Bearcats battled hard, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute when senior Charlotte Foster headed in a corner kick by defender Dani Raske. It was Foster’s third goal of the season, and Raske’s fifth assist. The sophomore currently leads the team with 17 points.
Stony Brook then tied the score around three minutes before the end of the first half on a goal by sophomore forward Danielle Tenaglia.
Coming out strong in the beginning of the second half, the Bearcats reclaimed a one-goal advantage on a goal by freshman forward Mary DeWitte. The goal, Dewitte’s first in her collegiate career, came on a loose ball off a free kick by Raske.
The joy of the lead was short-lived, however, as the Sea Wolves struck back just over a minute later on a tally by senior Brooke Barbuto. It was Barbuto’s fourth goal of the season. She finished the game with three shots.
Stony Brook put the final nail in the Bearcats’ coffin with a little under six minutes to play, when America East Rookie of the Week Colleen McKenna booted home a shot that beat Binghamton goaltender Jen McEachron. It was McKenna’s sixth tally of the season, which ties her with Raske for one of the top spots in the conference. She added an assist on Tenaglia’s first-half goal and now has 14 points for the season.
McEachron finished the game with five saves on 13 Stony Brook shots. Sea Wolves junior net-minder Marisa Viola, one of the top goaltenders in the America East with top-three rankings in several categories, including saves and save percentage, needed to make only two saves on nine Bearcat shots.
The Bearcats will look to clinch the sixth and final playoff spot when they travel to Vermont on Sunday for an afternoon match against the Catamounts. Vermont (4-12-1, 2-4-1 AE) currently has one less loss than the Bearcats, and the winner of their game this weekend is assured the final tournament bid. Vermont defeated Albany 2-1 yesterday afternoon to gain this lead over the Bearcats.