Much talk this season has centered around the work of the talented core of young players on the Binghamton University women’s soccer team. On Sunday night, the Bearcats’ veteran players made sure that their names would be included in that conversation as well.

The Bearcats (3-1) defeated Holy Cross by a score of 2-0, with some of the more experienced members of the squad leading the way. Senior forward Charlotte Foster and junior midfielder Amanda Casares scored the goals for Binghamton in a game that included strong efforts from all players, both newcomers to the team and wily veterans.

“It was a great team effort today,” head coach Sarah McClellan said in a Binghamton University press release. “We made a few adjustments in the first half and the players really battled and stuck to the game plan. They worked hard and I’m happy they got the result they earned.”

Foster scored the first goal in the 39th minute, when she took a feed from sophomore Dani Raske and fired it off the right post and into the goal. The tally was Foster’s second of the season. Raske was credited with an assist on the goal and finished the game with four shots, which led the team.

In the second half, Casares stole the ball from a Holy Cross defender and blasted an 18-yard shot into the top left corner past Holy Cross netminder Jessica Stone to make the score 2-0.

Stone finished the game with five saves on 12 shots, while Binghamton goaltender Jen McEachron made four saves to earn her second shutout win of the season. McEachron is currently second in the America East Conference with a goals-against-average of 0.49.

Foster and Casares, along with freshman AnnMarie Rizzi, now lead the team with four points apiece, which is good enough for fifth in the America East. Casares is also tied with teammate Taylor Kucharski for first place in the conference in assists, with two.

Holy Cross, who managed eight shots in the game, was led by freshman Katherine Donnelly, who recorded four shots, and junior Shelby Stand, who had three.

With the victory, the Bearcats have now reached their win total for the entire 2007 season, in which they finished 3-12.

The Bearcats next play Iona this Friday in their home opener right here at the Bearcats Sports Complex. The Gaels (0-4) come in having dropped their last game in double overtime to Maine on Sunday. They have yet to tally a single point this season, but this is not indicative of their level of play. The Gaels play a tough style of defense, allowing only one goal in each of their last three games. The heart of their defense lies in senior goalkeeper Suzanne Baldissard, who recorded six saves in the loss. Baldissard has played in every minute of the Gaels’ games this season, compiling a 1.62 goals-against-average and making 21 saves.

The Gaels will travel to Columbia today for a game against the Lions before arriving in Binghamton for the 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday.