With a postseason appearance on the line, the Binghamton women’s soccer team couldn’t deliver a victory on Sunday afternoon, falling to Vermont, 2-1. Despite the Bearcats’ new-found power on offense, the Catamounts (7-7-2, 4-3-1 AE) ended a turbulent season for BU (3-12-2, 2-5-1 America East), who finished the year in last place in the America East conference.
With the conclusion of the 2015 season, the Binghamton athletics department announced that BU head coach Sarah McClellan will not be returning next year. McClellan has been reassigned to a new position within the department until the end of her contract in December 2016, according to a press release posted on bubearcats.com.
Before the start of the game, BU honored its five graduating seniors — backs Samantha Crane and Alyssa Vallar, forwards Stephani Church and Jacqueline Ehrenreich and midfielder Katherine Corcoran — with a ceremony at mid-field prior to kickoff.
“Our seniors have been great,” McClellan said. “For four years, to be a Division I student-athlete, at a tough school like Binghamton, is a huge accomplishment. This season, they helped to put us in a situation where we had an opportunity to get into the playoffs.”
In the 51st minute, Corcoran opened the scoring with her third goal of the season. Corcoran buried a long-range shot from outside the box to push the Bearcats out in front, 1-0. The goal marked the eighth and final goal of her career.
“Kat has been playing lights out the last couple games,” McClellan said. “She’s one of the most difficult players to defend and is one of the best midfielders in the conference. I see those goals all the time in training.”
But BU’s lead quickly evaporated, as Vermont sophomore forward Rylee Osgood scored off of a defensive zone turnover to net the equalizer in the 70th minute. Just less than two minutes later, junior forward and 2013 America East Rookie of the Year Nikki McFarland scored to put the Catamounts out in front, 2-1.
“I thought we were doing a great job to defend,” McClellan said. “It was just a transition moment. It was an unlucky situation that could have gone the other way.”
In the waning moments of the game, BU had its opportunities to tie up the score, but failed to find the back-of-the net. Binghamton’s best chance came in the 83rd minute, when Corcoran delivered a shot to the Vermont net. But Catamount senior goalkeeper Ally Ramos deflected the ball away to preserve the 2-1 victory. The Bearcats’ season — and the collegiate athletic careers of five — were over when the clock hit zero.
Now, BU will look to the future, as they are set to return a strong crop of players for 2016, including freshman forward Julianne Johnston, freshman midfielder Sierra Barr and sophomore goalkeeper Katie Hatziyianis, all of whom were significant contributors this season.
“The returners are going to be putting their mind to getting back to the playoffs next season,” McClellan said.