Heading into a game with one of the top teams in your conference is never easy. However, the Binghamton University women’s soccer team proved that it was up to that task yesterday night, engaging in a 1-1 double overtime tie with the first place Stony Brook Seawolves.

BU junior Charlotte Foster’s first-half goal was the first allowed by Stony Brook since Sept. 14. Goalkeeper Marisa Viola came into the game leading the America East conference in most categories, including goals against average (.43) and save percentage (.928). She also leads the conference in shutouts with 10, which is double her closest competitor, Elizabeth Cook of Hartford, who has five.

The Stony Brook attack, which boasted junior forwards Trine Allenberg (seven points for the season) and Brooke Barbuto (five points), played a hard match and constantly kept the Bearcats on their toes. However, Binghamton’s backfield proved more than capable of controlling that attack. Senior backfielder Katie Kerrigan led the way, playing a very physical game and also redirecting a Stony Brook scoring chance out of play.

‘I’m so proud of our effort,’ said Binghamton head coach Jeff Leightman. ‘We played start to finish and we played our hearts out.’

After a back and forth first half, which saw both teams trade scoring opportunities, the Bearcats came out hungry to take the lead in the second half. On a feed from senior forward Kim Povill, junior Charlotte Foster scored her first goal of the season to put Binghamton up 1-0 at 48:55. However, less than eight minutes later, Stony Brook evened the score when junior forward Kate Collins took a feed from Barbuto that she put past a diving Jen McEachron, who made her first start of the season for the Bearcats (2-9-3, 1-3-1 AE). Barbuto finished with three shots.

Povill, the team leader with 14 points, finished with four shots, which also led the team.

The Bearcats kept Viola on her toes, amassing 14 shots and forcing her to make five saves.

‘Everyone contributed,’ Leightman said. ‘This was a team effort.’

McEachron, who needed to make several acrobatic saves, including one that made her look like Superman, finished with seven saves on 16 shots.

‘When we play well, we’re a very tough team to beat,’ Leightman said. ‘I was proud to be a Bearcat tonight.’

The Bearcats next play on the road at Maine on Sunday. The Black Bears (4-6-3, AE 2-2-1) are coming off a disappointing loss to New Hampshire yesterday afternoon. Sophomore Laura Martel leads the team with 10 points, including five goals.