The Binghamton University women’s soccer team (2-10-3, 1-4-1 AE) traveled north to Maine in hopes of righting its current string of poor luck in conference play. Looking to win their first AE game since Oct. 4 against Vermont, the Bearcats prepared to open fire on the Black Bears. But that plan backfired as Maine scored twice in a 3:21 span in the second half sealing a 2-0 victory.

Just before the 55th minute, Maine’s Laura Harper broke a scoreless tie, sending a corner kick past BU’s Jen McEachron who finished with three saves. Teammate Hannah Breton added an insurance goal off a scramble in front of the net less than four minutes later.

‘It’s a disappointing result,’ said coach Jeff Leightman. ‘We played hard but weren’t able to capitalize on a couple of really good chances.’

The Bearcats ripped 10 shots in the direction of Black Bears keeper Jasmine Phillips, eight coming in the second half, but it was too little too late. Phillips finished with three saves en route to her fourth shutout of the season. Seniors Kerry O’Shaughnessy, Tricia Reed and Kim Povill led the Bearcats with two shots each.

With two games remaining, Binghamton remains in sixth place, the lowest place that would still ensure a postseason birth. Thursday’s home matchup with UMBC will be all the more important, considering the Retrievers (2-11-1, 1-5 AE) trail the Bearcats by just one point. Of the three teams trailing the Bearcats, UMBC is the only team BU has not played. The Bearcats have the tiebreaker against Vermont, but do not against Albany. After Binghamton, UMBC will take on Albany.

‘We’re still in the hunt but we have to win Thursday,’ Leightman said.

The Retrievers are coming off their first AE win of the season, a 2-1 victory over Vermont Sunday in Baltimore. The win snapped a nine-game winless streak. Megan McDonald scored her team-best fourth goal of the year that game.

Thursday’s game will also be the final home game ever for Bearcat seniors O’Shaughnessy, Povill, Reed, Danielle White, Erica Eddy, Mackenzie Harris, Christina Butler and Lorin Weidman. The group will leave as one of Binghamton women’s soccer’s most successful ever, having all played integral roles in the Bearcats 2004 women’s soccer championship.

This season, Povill leads the team in points with four goals and six assists, while White, the team’s fifth year player, is second with four goals and two assists. Reed is third on the team with three goals and one assist. Kerrigan has scored a goal and Weidman has one assist, and O’Shaughnessy has been a huge part of the BU backline.

Thursday will likely be the last chance these players step on the field wearing the home white, as a home playoff game seems just about impossible.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Bearcat Sports Center. The seniors will be honored prior to kickoff.