Having earned its postseason berth on a last-second goal over UMBC, the Binghamton women’s soccer team competed through its America East quarterfinals match in no less of a dramatic fashion. The sixth-seeded Bearcats (7-9-3, 3-3-2 America East) converted another clutch score at the end of regulation, pressing third-seeded University of New Hampshire into overtime.
But through 110 minutes of play and eight penalty kicks, BU saw its playoff run end early. The Wildcats (7-8-3, 4-2-2 AE) beat Binghamton in a penalty kick shootout, 4-2, to advance to the semifinal round.
“I really think [our team] did a great job managing the game,” Binghamton head coach Sarah McClellan said. “Our team just fought and came back in a really tough environment and tough circumstances. I’m really proud of our group.”
Sophomore midfielder Katie O’Neill took BU’s first shot in the second minute of the game, forcing an early save out of New Hampshire freshman keeper Mimi Borkan. The Wildcats responded two minutes later with a shot of their own, and the scoreless half reflected the back-and-forth tempo of the game. The first 45 ended with New Hampshire holding just a slight shot advantage over the Bearcats, 7-6.
After an impressive first half consisting of three saves, senior goalie Gaby Gold returned to the net for Binghamton in the second. The move was atypical for McClellan, who normally plays two keepers per game, one per half. Gold made an additional four saves in the period before New Hampshire freshman forward Brook Murphy netted her ninth goal of the season in the 62nd minute, putting her team up, 1-0.
Playing catch-up, junior midfielder Katherine Corcoran let off a shot to New Hampshire just three minutes later, but it hit the post.
Come the 75th minute, BU subbed in freshman Katie Hatziyanis, relieving Gold for the night.
“Both of our keepers made big-time saves tonight, kept us in the game,” McClellan said. “Katie plays well high off our line so we need[ed] her to kind of be our sweeper.”
With a fresh presence in the net and the Bearcats down a score, the underdogs continued to look for the equalizer in regulation. That shot came in the 89th minute. Freshman midfielder Valerie McNamara put Binghamton on the board, heading a corner kick taken by junior midfielder Rebecca Raber into the back of the net.
Regulation ended with the score knotted at one, and the Bearcats delved into their fifth overtime match in six games.
“Our opponent was trying to kill the game and waste time and I think our team just kept pushing forward and kept believing and didn’t give up on the game,” McClellan said. “And when you do that you create chances.”
Outshot, 20-13, through regulation, Binghamton continued to struggle offensively in the first overtime period. The opening three shots of the ten-minute stanza were New Hampshire’s, and the Wildcats held a commanding 4-1 shot advantage through the period. But with neither team able to score, BU prepared for its third consecutive double-overtime match.
The second overtime proved more equal, as the teams split the shot count at two apiece. On a shot in the 104th minute, Hatziyianis was the star, jumping up and making a one-handed swat save to keep BU alive. But the Bearcat offense failed to generate, and the teams were pushed into an all-or-nothing penalty kick shootout.
Up first for the Bearcats in the shootout, Raber scored on Borkan to put BU up, 1-0, in PKs. The lead was short lived. New Hampshire senior forwards Meghan Ledwith and Jenna Shaddock, Murphy and junior midfielder Kirsten O’Neil all struck the ball past Hatziyianis while only Raber and McNamara scored for the Bearcats. The final score of the game was a 1-1 draw, but New Hampshire advances to play second-seeded UMBC in the semifinal round on Sunday.
For Binghamton, now eliminated, the loss was a bittersweet end to a rocky 2014 campaign.
“I’m really proud of our seniors and this team [who] battled and improved throughout the season,” McClellan said. “Tough way to end the season, but really great effort this year and a great stretch at the end.”