For New Hampshire, the sudden death was quick, but not exactly painless.

The Binghamton women’s soccer team kept its home winning streak alive with its second straight America East victory Thursday, beating New Hampshire 1-0 at West Gym Field. After 90 minutes of hard fought scoreless play, the game was sent into overtime, where the gritty play looked to continue in a game where neither team had created an edge.

Tricia Reed and Kelly Haslinger had other plans.

Less than one minute into the sudden death overtime period, Haslinger kicked a ball through a mess of four UNH defenders to Reed. The junior midfielder saw her chance and let loose a booming kick which arched over the head of New Hampshire goalkeeper Lynn Guglizza, giving the Bearcats the win and three crucial conference points.

“I was just hoping that Kelly would get the touch in,” Reed said. “She crossed it to me and I just hit it hoping it would go into the goal.”

There were times in the second half, however, when overtime didn’t seem like an option. The Wildcats outshot BU 15-11, and the second half was played almost entirely in New Hampshire’s offensive zone.

“We’re very fortunate to come out on top today,” said head coach Jeff Leightman. “A bounce here, a bounce there, and we’re the ones hanging our heads.”

A big reason the Bearcats are holding their heads high is the play of senior goalkeeper Kristie Bowers: she made eight saves en route to her second consecutive shutout and fourth solo shutout of the year.

Bowers was tested throughout the second half, but turned away every challenge UNH sent her way. The Wildcats had their best scoring chance of the night when, with less than three minutes to go in the game, UNH caught Bowers off guard and drilled a shot at a nearly open net. But luckily for the Bearcats, the shot nicked off the post and was eventually cleared by the BU defense.

“The post scared me a little bit there,” said Bowers. “I kind of slipped on that one. They were coming on hard, but I just wanted to get the win. It meant so much for us to get that win.”

The win comes on the heels of another home win, a 1-0 victory over Albany on Sunday, and places Binghamton in fourth place in the America East, making a run for a playoff spot look like a distinct possibility.

The game was a pivotal one — had New Hampshire won, it would be BU on the outside looking in on the AE playoff race.

“This was such a huge game for both teams,” Leightman said. “With both teams at 1-2, this was kind of the season on the line. It doesn’t knock anyone out, but it really puts the loser in a bad position. We didn’t want to be in that position, and thank God we aren’t.”

The win also keeps the Bearcats’ home winning streak intact: The last time a visiting squad came to West Gym Field and won was Sept. 29 of last season, a span of nine games. The shutout was the Bearcats fifth home shutout of the year, and visiting teams have managed just one goal at West Gym Field all season.

“We love playing here,” Reed said. “We love playing in front of our fans and our parents, and we always say ‘We don’t lose on our home field.’”